Cops, soldiers raid shabu laboratory

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Police and the military raided a warehouse turned into a shabu laboratory and arrested its caretaker in a remote village in Catanduanes on Saturday.

The raiding team seized equipment, chemicals and a truck from the 400-square-meter property in Barangay Palta located at the boundary of Virac and San Andres towns.

Bicol police director Chief Superintendent Melvin Ramon Buenafe said the caretaker, whose name was not immediately available, was placed under investigation.

Authorities launched a manhunt for Paulo Uy and Jason Uy, the alleged tenants of the warehouse owned by Angelica Balmadrid.

The raiding team had a hard time entering the warehouse as its doors and windows were made of steel.

Buenafe said closed-circuit television cameras were installed inside and outside the property located in the middle of a coconut plantation.