DAVAO DEL NORTE -- A shabu laboratory was discovered by a carpenter when he was dismantling the roof of an abandoned house in Purok Bagani, Barangay Cuambogan in Tagum City around 2:45 p.m. Sunday, October 11, 2020.
Police Colonel Rani Hachuela, Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office (DNPPO) director, said the shabu lab was discovered when one Marivic Wong Tan Casis tried to sell the roof of her house.
Hachuela said the live-in partner of Casis's father went to the area to prepare the selling of the roof in an amount of P1,500 to buy medicines needed for the elder Casis, who was suffering an undisclosed illness.
Hachuela added that Casis hired Ronnel Natores Navarro, 38, to dismantle the roof when the former discovered the shabu lab and other drug paraphernalia which were hidden on the ceiling. Navarro was the one who immediately reported his discovery to the police station.
The house was reportedly abandoned for two years already after Casis was arrested last August 15, 2018 during an anti-drug operation which dubbed Casis as the "Shabu Queen."
Casis is still detained at the Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol) here in the province.
Hachuela said the total worth of the discovery is pegged at P23 million, including the shabu and different paraphernalia.
After the police received the information, the joint forces of the Tagum City Police Station, Philippine Enforcement Agency, and Provincial Intelligence Unit of DNPPO, among others, immediately went to the area.
Reportedly, this is the first time that a shabu lab was discovered in Tagum City.