Drug dens as training centers?

MANILA, Philippines—From drug dens to livelihood training facilities?

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has said that he was considering turning drug dens sequestered by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) into livelihood training facilities for human trafficking victims.

In a recent meeting, Bautista asked PDEA Regional Director Erwin Ogario to carefully study his proposal.

The Dangerous Drugs Act of 2003 prohibits the disposition, alienation and transfer of the confiscated property.

However, Bautista said in a statement that these could be used for legitimate purposes while the cases concerning these were pending in court.

Some of the former drug dens seized by the PDEA are in Barangay Salvacion and on Calavite Street in La Loma, both in Quezon City.