DAVAO CITY”•The nephew of Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Jesus Dureza was arrested in a buy-bust operation by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives in his house here on Thursday, officials said.
John Paul Dureza was arrested in Del Rio, Catalunan Pequeño around 5:45 p.m.
One Jose Antonio Huilar was arrested with him.
Authorities seized 15 grams of shabu worth P225,000, a 22-caliber rifle and 117 live ammunition, the officials said.
John Paul’s arrest was immediately confirmed by Jesus through his Facebook account.
“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,” Jesus said.
“I am of course embarrassed as he is a close relative, but I commend the authorities for enforcing and applying the law without fear or favor.”
John Paul is the son of Jerry, Jesus’ youngest brother.
PDEA Director Adzhar Albani said the younger Dureza had been in their watch list.
“We validated all the information we had gathered on him, and that is why he was on our watch list,” Albani said.
He said John Paul had a big network in Davao City and Davao Del Norte.
Albani said they had seen the connection between John Paul and John Saavedra, one of the top drug personalities in the city who was arrested last December inside his car shop in Bajada.