PTA president in Sarangani nabbed in drugs bust

MANILA, Philippines - Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested a 40-year-old government employee in Sarangani province during a buy-bust operation, the agency reported Thursday.

PDEA agents nabbed Antonio Catingub, a collector of the National Irrigation Authority and a resident of Purok Daisy, Ramos Subdivision, Barangay Malandag, Malungon, Sarangani Province.

The PDEA said that elements of its Regional Office 12 Sarangani Province Special Enforcement Group apprehended Catingub after selling a sachet of shabu to a poseur-buyer in his neighborhood in Barangay Malandag past noon last January 17.

"Catingub is classified as a high-value targeted drug personality since he is a government worker engaged in peddling illegal drugs. Reports revealed that Catingub is the current president of the parent-teacher association of Malandag National High School," PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said.

Authorities are now preparing a case before the court against Catingub for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.