A small-scale shabu laboratory was discovered in a house in Barangay Sahud Ulan, Tanza, Cavite, after a strong explosion occurred inside the residence early this week.

According to reports, the blast happened around 5 a.m. on Leon Fojas St., prompting tenants to flee the house.

Responding firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection found a room on the side of the house where the explosion occurred, which appeared to be a makeshift laboratory for cooking illegal drugs. A pail containing the substances reportedly exploded.

The tenants, who were renting the house, were nowhere to be found after the blast. They were identified as two Chinese nationals, one Indonesian, and a Filipino woman.

The house’s caretaker, who declined to be named, said the Filipino woman had contacted him online and claimed to be working as a voice assistant.

She was looking for a quiet and peaceful environment and rented the house for P27,000 pesos per month.

The tenants had only been living in the house since November, and the caretaker said he had no knowledge of any illicit activities being conducted inside the rented property.

The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are conducting an ocular inspection and inventory of evidence found inside the house, including chemicals used in drug production, drug paraphernalia, suspected shabu sachets, gas masks, and other items.