Two days ago, Tocillo Debalucos Ababon, who police believe to be the right-hand man of Sabalones, was shot dead by three suspects on board three motorcycles while he was on a patrol car on his way to the Argao Regional Trial Court.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) — Cebu City’s most wanted person, a self-confessed drug lord, was shot dead in Quezon City yesterday, police said.
Authorities said Franz Sabalones, 41, was killed Thursday midnight by unidentified assailants on a gray Ford Ranger with plate number IM2090 in Barangay South Triangle while he was on his way to watch a billiard tournament.
They added that Sabalones was shot in the head and died on the spot.
“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,” Quezon City police director Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr. said.
Sabalones had surrendered to former Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in the early days of the Duterte administration.
Ababon’s two police escorts, Police Staff Sergeants Ruel Patalinghug and Crescencio Abad, survived the attack. Region VII police director Debold Sinas said the two wore bulletproof vests.
Ababon was arrested in December 2018 with illegal drugs worth at least P10 million.
Sinas also suspected that Ababon’s slay was due to his involvement in illegal drugs, particularly because of disagreements among syndicates.
Cebu City-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this report.
