MANILA, Philippines — The House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, and Public Order and Security have been urged to jointly investigate the prevalent use by crime syndicates of rented properties in exclusive subdivisions as hideout or bases of their operations.

In filing House Resolution 2037, Laguna Rep. Ramon “Dan” Fernandez, vice chairman of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs, called on his colleagues in the Lower Chamber to step up efforts to address the issue, as he expressed alarm that syndicates are able to rent houses inside the exclusive and reclusive subdivisions like the Ayala-Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City.

In early January, authorities raided a resort-type compound in a one-hectare property inside the Ayala-Alabang Village, which led to the arrest of five foreigners who were found operating a medium-size shabu laboratory capable of producing at least 10 kilos of the prohibited substance in just two days.

The compound was rented from Fuerte Holdings, Inc., with the lease contract signed by a certain Gloria Cahulogan and one of the arrested suspects, Fernandez said.

“The firm can't say they just let the suspects do what they wanted. There should be a level of responsibility on the part of the owner,” he said, citing the possibility of filing charges against Fuerte Holdings, Inc. as earlier announced by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr.

The Laguna lawmaker even cited that the Dominguez carnapping syndicate also managed to use an apartment at Greenville Subdivision, Barangay San Jose in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga, while the Alvin Flores group, believed to be responsible for the series of robberies, was holed up in a rented house in Rocka Village, Barangay Tabang Paridel, Bulacan. The group robbed the Greenbelt 5 Rolex Watch store a few years ago.

It was recalled that in February last year, police raided a suspected drug laboratory at 1 Silver Town Homes in Potrero Village, Malabon, which yielded some P500 million worth of shabu.

“Many more similar incidents have happened. We want these illegal operations stopped,” Fernandez said.

In 2010, three foreigners were arrested in a raid on a rented house on Concha Drive, BF Homes, Parañaque.