Ex-PDEA exec gets prison term for grave threat

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to two months in prison for threatening to kill one of his anti-narcotics agents five years ago. 

Magistrates of the anti-graft court’s Third Division slapped former PDEA Region 11 director Juvenal Azurin with a fine of P500 after he was found guilty of grave threat under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code.

In his complaint, Jaime Clave said Azurin called him on the phone on Nov. 13, 2013 and informed him that he would be re-assigned as PDEA team leader in Nueva Vizcaya.

Clave was the team leader of PDEA-Isabela at the time.

During the conversation, Azurin cursed and repeatedly threatened to kill Clave.

“Azurin threatened the complainant after he suspected that Clave was the one who texted the PDEA deputy director general for administration regarding some issues on the operational funds of their office,” read the ruling penned by Associate Justice Bernelito Fernandez.

The Sandiganbayan ruled in favor of Clave after Azurin admitted that he made the telephone call.