AROUND P1.8 million worth of illegal drugs were recovered from the driver and close aide of self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones during a raid at his house in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City on Wednesday morning, April 10.
Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) said they were able to recover the illegal drugs from Gonzalo Echavez Abellana II, 38, based on a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) executive judge Leopoldo Cañete in Barili town, Cebu.
During their legal search, PIB operatives recovered two large packs and 15 medium packs of suspected shabu worth P1.8 million. They also recovered an airsoft pistol with magazine.
Police Captain Alejandro Batobalonos, head of the PIB and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, said Abellana was identified by their intelligence units as a cohort of Sabalones, particularly serving as his personal driver and close aide.
Though Abellana no longer works for Sabalones as his driver and close aide, he continued his former boss’s work as an illegal drug seller, Batobalonos said.
Batobalonos believes that until now, Sabalones still supplies Abellana with illegal drugs. (JKV)