2nd most wanted drug lord in Central Visayas surrenders to PNP chief

The second most wanted drug lord in Central Visayas has surrendered to Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa Sunday night and promised to amend his ways.

Dela Rosa said Franz Sabalones admitted to him that he is a drug lord in Region 7.

Sabalones also admitted assuming control of Cebu’s drug trade from drug kingpin Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz, who was killed during an encounter with police in Las Piñas in June.

“Siya yung umamin, umamin siya drug lord siya. Drug lord ka 'di ba? Sa Central Visayas, Region 7 sa Cebu,” the PNP chief said before members of the media.

“Gusto ko nang magbago,” Sabalones told Dela Rosa.

Sabalones was presented to the media on Monday morning together with his brother San Fernando, Cebu Vice Mayor Frals Sabalones who was named by President Rodrigo Duterte as among the local officials involved in illegal drugs.

The vice mayor denied that he is involved in drugs.

Dela Rosa told Sabalones that he will be killed if he will not stop his illegal drugs operations.

“Basta ito 'pag hindi siya nagbago mamatay talaga ito. Magbago ka dapat ha. Sa dami ng naaksayang buhay sa Central Visayas ngayong nag-surrender ka magbago ka ha. 'Pag hindi siya nagbago alam na niya. Basta magbago ka,” he said.

Peter Co connection

In a press briefing, Dela Rosa said Sabalones used to be an underling of Diaz. Since Sabalones wanted to increase his income, he separated from Diaz and tried to go directly to the supplier, Peter Co, who is detained at the National Bilibid Prisons.

Diaz did all he can to stop Sabalones.

“Kumontak siya kay Peter Co para yung supply from Bilibid diretso na sa kanya, hindi na kay Jaguar. Nung kumontak s’ya kay Peter Co gumawa ng paraan si Jaguar na masira s’ya at hindi masuplayan ni Peter Co,” the PNP chief said.

“So from Peter Co naghanap s’ya ng ibang source doon at meron s’yang napuntahan na isang David Sy, doon s’ya nakakuha ng supply from drug lord sa Bilibid papunta na sa kanya,” he added.

He said he gets his supply by bringing in a high-end SUV where the illegal drugs will be loaded every month.

“Kinakarga doon yung 15 kilos a month, biyahe 'yan by land para hindi masita papunta doon sa Cebu. Pagdating doon sa Cebu pina-park lang nila doon sa parking area ng Gaisano Mall. Pinapasa doon at doon nagdi-distribute ng goods,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said they have yet to confirm if there are any standing warrants against Sabalones but he wanted the confessed drug lord to be charged immediately.

“Hindi pauwiin yun. Baka pwede pa yun i-inquest. May lawyer naman syang kasama,” he said.

Payola

The PNP chief said Sabalones also told him that he is giving P200,000 weekly to a police colonel and other police officers. The PNP members benefitting from Sabalones’ payola have been transferred to different regions, he added.

“Yung payola n'ya monthly, may napupunta kay colonel, may napupunta kay major, may napupunta kay chief of police. Sinabi n'ya lahat yung officials ng PNP na involved at sa lahat ng sinabi lahat yung ngayon wala na sa Cebu dahil itatapon natin sa ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao),  Cordillera 'yang mga officials na 'yan pati police non-commissioned officers,” he said.

Asked how high in the PNP hierarchy does the money from Sabalones go, Dela Rosa said: “Hanggang colonel lang binibigyan n’ya ng pera at hindi n'ya alam kung itong colonel na ito na close sa general ay nagre-remit ng pera doon sa general. Basta alam n'ya direkta lang s'ya sa colonel at hindi n'ya alam kung umaakyat sa general.”

He refused to name the colonel tagged by Sabalones saying he might kill the police official.

“Baka mapatay ko yung colonel na ipapatawag. Hawakan ko sa leeg at baliin ko ang leeg... Tama na. Nasa ARMM na s'ya. Bahala na itong IAS (Internal Affairs Service) magkatay doon sa colonel na iyon legally,” he said. —ALG, GMA News