Dureza nephew arrested in buy-bust

DAVAO CITY — A nephew of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza was arrested the other day by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) while in possession of 1225,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” in Catalunan Pequeño District, this city.

John Paul Dureza, 33, was nabbed with Jose Anthony Celso Huillar, 38, in a buy-bust operation staged by PDEA agents at 5:45 p.m. Thursday at Block 4, Lot 6, Residencia del Rio in Catalunan Pequeño.

Seized from them were at least 15 grams of shabu, with street value of 1225,000, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

The suspects were collared after they sold 11,000 worth of shabu to a PDEA undercover agent.

Authorities also found a .22-caliber rifle with live ammunition from the suspects.

They are now detained at the PDEA Regional Office 11 detention facility, while the illegal substances confiscated from them have been sent to the laboratory for confirmatory tests.

Cases for violation of Section 26 in relation to Section 5, Section 11 and Section 12, Article II of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” and Republic Act 10591 are being prepared against Dureza and Huillar.

In a Facebook post, Secretary Dureza said he was embarrassed by the incident as he confirmed that John Paul was a “close relative.”

John Paul is the son of Sec. Dureza’s youngest brother Jerry.

“I slept early last night (still on sick leave but feeling okay) only to wake up early to be informed that one of my nephews was arrested by PDEA for drugs.”

“But I commend the authorities for enforcing and applying the law without fear or favor,” he said. “That’s the way this no-nonsense drive of President Duterte should proceed,” the secretary added. (With reports from Jenny F. Manongdo and Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)