Property owners urged to ascertain tenants aren’t criminals

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Saturday called on property owners to check on the identities of the people they lease houses or apartments to and ensure that their property is not used for criminal or illegal purposes such as the house in the exclusive Ayala Alabang subdivision that was used as a narcotics laboratory that the police raided on Friday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said realtors should keep in mind the safety and security of the community when they deal with prospective tenants.

“It shouldn’t be all about transactions,” Valte said over state-run dzRB.

Valte lauded the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Friday’s raid on the Ayala Alabang shabu or methamphetamine lab which, she said, was successful and done properly.

The PDEA previously had a row with the Department of Justice over operational lapses when it arrested the so-called Alabang Boys a few years ago.