Arrest of Franz Sabalones’ alleged former aide yields P1.8M worth of shabu

Talisay City, Cebu— Police arrested on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, an alleged former aide of self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones in Sitio Nonok, Barangay Tabunok here.

Led by Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) chief Police Captain Alejandro Batobalonos  and PIB Deputy Chief Police Captain Nazareno Emia, members of the police arrested 38-year-old Gonzalo “Jeto” Abellana after conducting a raid on the latter’s home based on a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Leopoldo Cañete of Branch 60 in Barili town. 

Read more: Police find high powered firearms in the house of confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones

Confiscated during the raid was an estimated P1.8 million worth of suspected shabu. 

Police also recovered airsoft rifles and magazines from the pad of the suspect during the raid. 

Read more: SABALONES SURRENDERS

According to Batobalonos, they were monitoring Abellana for almost a month before they applied for a search warrant from the court. 

Based on information gathered by the police, Abellana is the former close in body guard and driver of Sabalones, who surrendered to authorities and confessed to being a drug lord in 2016. He was released months after and is remains at large. 

Read more: Sabalones no longer under CIDG custody

However, Abellana denied that he was a close in bodyguard of Sabalones, although he did admit that he drove for the controversial drug lord in several occasions. 

He said he did work as a driver but not for Sabalones but for a resort that the latter owned.  

Abellana added that only lasted about a year as a driver as he was part of those who were terminated by the resort. 

He also said he didn’t know of the illegal activities of Sabalones. /bmjo