Alleged Cebu City drug lord killed in Quezon City

April 19, 2019

An alleged drug lord in Cebu City was killed in Quezon City last Thursday.

Police Brigadier General Joselito Esquivel Jr., Quezon City district director, in a statement said killed was Franz Sabalones alias Tisoy, 41, of Cebu City and residing at No. 5 Calle Zaragosa Castillo Classic, BF Resort Village in Talon Dos, Las Piñas City.

Investigation disclosed that around 12:08 am, Sabalones was with his friends to watch a billiards tournament in Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City when he was shot in the head after alighting from their vehicle.

Sabalones' cousin appeared at Quezon City Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit office around 1:30 pm and identified the victim.

Authorities found out that Sabalones is Cebu City's most wanted person with a warrant of arrest for illegal drugs.

Investigators from the CIDU and crime scene probers recovered a fired cartridge case of unknown caliber and belongings of Sabalones, including cellphones and several identification cards under the name of Jerome Cabilao and Abdulyakin Tating Limpasan.

Authorities submitted the victim's cellphones to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime for digital forensic examination while his cadaver was brought to PNP Crime Laboratory for autopsy.

Esquivel ordered an investigation on the death of Sabalones who surrendered to former Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa relative to his involvement in the illegal drug trade in Cebu City.

"While we are yet to establish the real motive in the killing, we cannot discount the possibility that he was killed because of alleged involvement in illegal drugs trade," he said.

"We received an information that from being Cebu City's Most Wanted, he is also known as a drug lord," Esquivel added. Ella Dionisio/DMS