The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) successfully implemented a buy-bust operation, capturing one person selling kush and marijuana-infused vape pens in Angeles City, Pampanga.

A report reaching the office of NBI Director Jaime Santiago showed that around 8:50 p.m. on 14 June 2025, agents of the NBI Pampanga District Office (NBI-PAMDO) conducted a buy-bust operation for the sale of dangerous drugs under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9165, or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022,” along General Ricarte Street in Barangay Lourdes Northwest, Angeles City.

Santiago said the case stemmed from an intelligence report that a certain individual was planning to sell and distribute dangerous drugs, specifically kush (dried marijuana flowering tops), hemp oil (or liquid marijuana), and marijuana vape cartridges (or carts), to customers and party attendees at a nearby bar located at Gen. Ricarte corner Jesus Extension, Lourdes Northwest, Angeles City, Pampanga.

The NBI director said that prior to the conduct of the buy-bust operation, he received further information that the subject would be arriving at the venue accompanied by a group of individuals who were also expected to attend the party.

The transaction was initially set to take place inside the bar during the ongoing party, but the suspect became cautious, changed the original plan, and opted to conduct the transaction outside the establishment inside the informant’s vehicle.

While the agents of NBI-PAMDO were effecting the arrest and announcing their authority, multiple gunshots were suddenly heard from the opposite side of the bar.

The gunshots caused panic among the bar customers, who were seen fleeing the establishment.

Operatives, in response, immediately instructed the customers to lie face down until the origin of the gunfire was identified.

The operatives thereafter secured the area and conducted a thorough search of the bar and its surrounding premises, but no armed individuals were apprehended, nor were any firearms recovered from the scene.

Initial assessments suggested that the gunfire may have been intended to create chaos during the ongoing operation. Fortunately, no one was hit or injured as a result of the incident.

Despite this incident, the law enforcement operation resulted in the arrest of the primary subject, Carl John Del Puerto Orcine, male, 24 years old, and a resident of 5113 Sampaloc Street, Brgy. Duquit, Mabalacat City, Pampanga, and the seizure of more or less 85 grams of kush (dried marijuana flower tops) with an estimated street value of Php 102,000.00 and twenty-one (21) pieces of carts or marijuana vapes with an estimated market value of Php 60,000.00.

Marking and inventory of the seized drug and non-drug evidence were conducted in the presence of the subject, Brgy. Kagawad Lionel S. Bernardo of Brgy. Lourdes Northwest, and Jimmy Hipolito, a member of the media.

The subject, on 16 June 2025, was charged before the City Prosecutor of Angeles City for the sale of dangerous drugs under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9165, or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022.”