Tanods to prevent three "abandoned" homes from being used as drug dens

CEBU, Philippines - Barangay officials will assign tanods in Tierra Grande Subdivision Camella Homes in Lawaan-I,Talisay City after they discovered that three abandoned houses are being used as drug dens by bystanders and motorcycle-for-hire drivers.

This was discovered after barangay officials led by chairman Jonathan Joy Tumulak, his council and some barangay tanods inspected the three abandoned houses and found several pieces of rolled tinfoil inside.

Tumulak said barangay tanods will be deployed in the area.

Tumulak said the houses are on Block5-Lot16, Block 9-Lot 68 and Block 17-Lot 2. The houses are without doors and windows and have become hives of drug users in the area.

He said when the houses were inspected when he was still councilman then and head of the Peace and Order council committee, various kinds of drug paraphernalia were found inside.

Councilman Rogelio Paradero, who was part of the inspecting team, said they also saw some candles in the area, raising suspicions that drug addicts frequent the houses.

The inspection was made after the homeowners' association complained to barangay officals about habal-habal drivers and bystanders abusing drugs.

In some places especially in slum areas, people have to pay at least P20 as "user's fee" to owners of houses where they can sniff shabu.

But in Tierra Grande, the three houses beckon.

No one was arrested when the inspection was made.