MANILA—Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian wants to amend the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 so that owners of spaces used as laboratories or warehouses for illegal narcotics are punished.

"(Senate Bill No. 1225) is another weapon in the government's arsenal in the anti-drug campaign . . . laboratory for the manufacturing or storage of dangerous drugs or chemicals used as raw materials for these banned substances," Gatchalian said in a statement.

Under the bill, owners or lessors of any structure used for such illicit activities face imprisonment between 12 years and 20 years.

Those guilty will also be fined between P100,000 and P500,000.

Those who own property found to have colluded with so-callled "drug personalities" face the maximum penalty, Gatchalian said.

The senator has repeatedly called for the passage of the bill following the seizure of some P1 billion worth of illegal narcotics at a warehouse in Malabon on Wednesday.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said 146 kilos of shabu from Cambodia was found at the Goldwin Commercial Warehouse.

"With the passage of this bill, it is expected that owners will be more circumspect in leasing their properties because of the liability they will face under the law," Gatchalian said.