Franz Sabalones no longer selling illegal drugs: lawyer
The lawyer of self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones said that his client regularly reports to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group national headquarters in Camp Crame.
Atty. Louie Arma said that the drug lord, who was based in San Fernando, Cebu, moves a lot to cover his tracks.
"Death threats are normal. There are people looking for him," Arma said.
He said that new drug players caught during operations hide their true supplier's name from authorities.
After his client surrendered to Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa last August, he stopped his illegal drug trade, Arma said.
"Those who are hiding behind his name are celebrating because by saying that they were his men, the police will not trace it back to them. They are the real drug players, who are operating after he stopped," Arma said.
He denied reports that Sabalones continued his drug operation.
"I report to the national headquarters that's why the local authorities don't know. I monitor the areas which were once Sabalones' stronghold," he said.
"There are players but for sure, they are not working under Sabalones anymore. So the po- lice should change the mentality that they'll get satisfied with the easiest explanation," he said.
Arma added that the freeze order on his client's assets was a legal consequence of Sabalones's surrender.
Some P76 million worth of financial assets and eight real properties have been frozen by the Court of Appeals (CA).
"We have no worries. We will face our case in the Department of Justice for drug charges first then we will do something to convince the CA to lift the freeze order," the lawyer said.
Two months after his surrender, Sabalones wrote a book entitled "Say No to Drugs and Yes to Jesus Christ", where he narrated how God helped him turn a new leaf after heading one of the biggest drug trades in Central Visayas.
The book, which has eight chapters, includes Sabalones' confession and Bible quotes.
Meanwhile, San Fernando Vice Mayor Fralz Sabalones appealed to the public not to compare him to his older brother since they are not the same.
He also denied using his brother's money during the last election campaign, saying it was his own and not from drug proceeds.
"My wife couldn't sleep at night. My children are bullied in school. This cannot go on. I am not like my brother because I am inclined in politics, not in drugs," the vice mayor said.
He said that he has been supporting the government's anti-drugs campaign, and denounced reports that San Fernando is the center of a drug trade.
My wife couldn't sleep at night. My children are bullied in school. This cannot go on. I am not like my brother because I am inclined in politics, not in drugs FRALZ SABALONES San Fernando Vice Mayor