Nephew of presidential peace adviser, companion nabbed in drug bust

February 11, 2017

The nephew of Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, and his cohort, were arrested during an entrapment operation in Davao City on Thursday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said in a statement on Saturday.

PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña identified the suspect as John Paul Dureza , 33 years old, a watch-listed drug personality and resident of Residencia del Rio, Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City; and Jose Anthony Celso Huilar, 38, of Emerald Street, Doña Luisa, Ecoland, Barangay 76-A, Davao City.

At 5:45 pm, agents of PDEA Regional Office 11 under Director Adzhar Albani arrested Dureza and Huilar during a buy-bust operation in the former’s house in Residencia del Rio.

Seized inside were 15 grams of white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, weighing more or less 15 grams, with an estimated street value of P200,000, one caliber 22 rifle, 117 pieces of caliber 22 ammunition, four pieces of caliber 40 ammunition, one caliber 9mm ammunition and  various drug paraphernalia.

“We had Dureza under our radar for quite some time now. He reportedly peddles illegal drugs to prominent families in Davao City. Since then, we never lost sight of him,” Lapeña said.

Cases for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), in relation to Section 26 (Conspiracy to Sell), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared for filing in court against Dureza and Huilar.

An additional case for violation of RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition) will also be filed against them. DMS