Doubt on Sabalones’ death

Since it is Easter Sunday and Jesus Christ has resurrected from the dead, allow me to play the role of the “Doubting Tomas” on the death of self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones. Like the death of suspected drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz several years ago, which remains a mystery to some including his close friends and relatives, the death of Sabalones is also somewhat a mystery. Why? Because until now, our local authorities, the provincial police office or even the regional police office have not confirmed yet if the person who was shot dead on Timog Ave. in Quezon City last Thursday dawn was Sabalones.

Several identification cards bearing different names including that of a “religious pastor” were recovered from the possession of the fatality. It was a cousin, Joselito Cabilao, who identified him. Okay. But how come five days since the incident, local police officials and even relatives of Sabalones in Cebu have not confirmed that it was him who was shot dead? Because of the long holidays? Did our police also have a Holy Week vacation? They should have prepared for media’s queries.

According to the report, “Sabalones” was on his way to a billiard hall on Borromeo corner Mother Ignacia St. in Barangay South Triangle when he was gunned down by unidentified assailants. An hour later, his body was identified by Cabilao. Quezon City police investigators are still facing a blank wall as to the identity of the assailants. They invited “Sabalones’” companions, Michael Noel Diaz and Jonathan Peter Tiu, to give their testimonies.

Was the body of “Sabalones” already claimed by his relatives from Cebu? Did someone close to him go to Manila to personally claim his cadaver? Based on photos released by Quezon City homicide investigators of the fatality, there is no similarity or resemblance to the old file photos of Sabalones when he was still alive. I haven’t met him in person. That is why I can hardly compare the pictures of when he was still alive and of the one when he was already dead.

I am raising this suspicion until someone credible confirms that indeed it was really Sabalones who got killed. Like Diaz, Sabalones’ life was also controversial. Many still don’t believe that the person who got

killed last June 17, 2016 in an apparent shootout in Las Piñas, was Diaz. Diaz was with Alvaro, alias “Barok,” another Cebu drug lord, and Jaguar’s driver, Paul Vincent Igloria, when they engaged in a shootuout operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 7 and Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG 7) headed by Supts. Rex Derilo and George Ylanan.

Diaz and Igloria were killed while Barok escaped, but later surrendered. During the wake, Diaz’s coffin was never opened for public viewing, which raised speculations and suspicions that the cadaver was not Diaz’s. Until now, it remains a mystery whether the one buried was Diaz. The real Diaz might still be alive.

Diaz was “killed” supposedly to prevent him from exposing his cohorts and benefactors who were politicians and high-ranking police officers.

Sabalones, a rehabilitated drug addict, formed his own drug group that operated in the first district of Cebu Province. He was the “capo dei capi” or “capo de tutti capi” (boss of all bosses) in his group. He established his own network with bigtime drug lords in the National Bilibid Prison where he got his drugs. He had strong connections with local politicians and police. He acquired multi-million properties, including beach resorts and farms.

But upon the assumption of President Duterte in 2016, he surrendered to then PNP Chief Roland “Bato” dela Rosa, prompting the government to freeze and confiscate his bank accounts and properties. Since no case was filed against him, Sabalones was freed from police custody. He reportedly resumed his illegal drug operations recently. He was reportedly a subject of a recent police manhunt.

I may be too presumptuous, but I suspect Sabalones might have been behind the murders of some San Fernando politicians and Cebu policemen who were linked to his group. They could have “spilled the beans.” And now that almost all of them have been eliminated, it’s time for him to go. Or did authorities give him the “chance” to reform and change his life by declaring himself “dead” and changing his identity? This, as a gift for cooperating with the government? That is why I want to ascertain if the fatality is really Sabalones. Kay aron dili magduda ang katawhan.

I am raising this suspicion until someone credible confirms that indeed it was really Sabalones who got killed? Like Diaz, Sabalones’ life was also controversial