‘Hold warehouse owners liable’

Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr. is pushing for the creation of a new law that will hold liable owners of buildings used in the manufacture and storage of shabu and other illegal drugs.

"The owner of a building or a warehouse that is found to be used in the manufacture or storage of illegal drugs must also be held accountable to make sure lessees do not use their property for illegal activities," Franco told The STAR.

Franco noted that owners of buildings can easily show authorities the lease of contract to get off the hook. Often they have no idea what goes on inside their property, claiming they are no longer in control of the activities of lessees.

"But as an owner, one must also make sure that the property is not used in illegal activities," Franco pointed out.

The NPD chief said that he is planning to draft a formal request addressed to lawmakers through the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency about his proposition.

Franco likened his plan to the rent-a-car trade where the owner of the vehicle involved in an accident can also be held liable and not just the driver.

"There must be equal responsibility on both parties for it involves national concern," Franco stressed.

He made the proposal after the police discovered by accident last Saturday a shabu laboratory inside an old warehouse in Barangay Maysan, Valenzuela City.

Roger Ang, the owner of the warehouse, told police that a certain Jimmy Ho had been renting his property. Ho is now the subject of a police manhunt.

Authorities seized tons of assorted chemicals, placed in at least 145 drums, as well as equipment used in manufacturing illegal drugs from Ang’s warehouse.

It was the third warehouse in Valenzuela City found to be housing chemicals used in illegal drugs.

The warehouse was discovered after residents in the area called the local fire station about thick smoke emanating from the building which turned out to have been caused by stockpiled chemicals.