Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon said new security measures were proposed for the exclusive Ayala Alabang Village after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized 20 kilos of suspected shabu shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P136 million during a raid on a house used as a drug laboratory.
The PDEA-led raid on Nov. 18 targeted a house on Mabolo Street in Ayala Alabang Village, home to the rich and famous.
PDEA identified the suspects as Aurelien Cythere, 41, a resident at the target address, and Mark Anthony Sarayot, 42, businessman, a resident of Barangay Ugong, Pasig.
Biazon said he convened a dialogue with officials of Barangay Ayala Alabang and Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) to discuss what measures to take to prevent any house in the posh village from being used for illegal drugs and other crimes.
In 2018, the PDEA and other government agencies declared Barangay Ayala Alabang, which covers the Ayala Alabang Village, as a drug-cleared, the first barangay in Muntinlupa to receive the declaration.
However, subsequent police operations in recent years yielded illegal drugs in the village.
Biazon said security is tight in Ayala Alabang Village and its residents value privacy. However, he said, the privacy aspect is being used by people to commit illegal acts and hide from authorities.
He said the barangay, village association and himself proposed several measures to prevent illegal drugs in the village.
One of these is requiring tenants, who rent houses in Ayala Alabang, to register so they can be identified.
Another is to have an agreement between Barangay Ayala Alabang, AAVA and law enforcement agencies to exchange intelligence information, which is the key to catching the culprits, said Biazon.
An ordinance was proposed for the issuance of a certification by the landlord that the house that is being leased is compliant with engineering and building official rules, and that there is no illegal activity in the home based on inspection.
Biazon also proposed to have a local alien registration that will require foreigners living in Muntinlupa to register.