Chinese tenant of apartment with P240M ‘shabu’ faces charges

MANILA, Philippines—Police are set to file charges against a Chinese national who rented an apartment in Malabon City where an estimated P240 million of suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) was found late Monday afternoon.

Senior Supt. Ferdinand Ampil, officer in charge of the Malabon City Police, told the Inquirer that charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act were being prepared against Abby Sy.

It was Sy who rented the apartment on Araneta Avenue in Barangay (village) Potrero, where an estimated 35 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride were found.

Police said Sy rented the room, which was made into what appeared to be a “kitchen-type shabu laboratory,” since January.

Sy remains at large.

According to a high-ranking official of the Northern Police District who declined to be identified, the police were also studying if charges were warranted against the owner of the building, Vincent Go, also a Chinese national.

He said this would depend on whether or not Go is found to have been aware of what appeared to be the illegal activities occurring inside Sy’s apartment.