Bacolod cited for neutralizing drug group

BACOLOD CITY – This city’s police office was awarded medals for neutralizing a drug group that resulted in the death of its leader and arrest of some members during a recent encounter.

After several unsuccessful operations, the Bacolod City police neutralized the Poja Drug Group, whose leader Ramu Poja was killed in a gunbattle in Barangay Banago on Thursday.

Police recovered two high-powered firearms and at least P840,000 worth of suspected shabu at the scene of the firefight.

Western Visayas police director Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag lauded the city police, led by Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo.

The 15-hour police operation against the drug group also resulted in the death of Poja’s relative Roberto Lim, who was said to be a high-value target, and the wounding of four persons, including Senior Inspector Victor Paulino, chief of the city police Station 3.

Ebreo and the members of the team were conferred with Medalya ng Kagitingan. Paulino was given the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting. Binag said the successful anti-drug operation would affect the illegal drug trade in the city and its neighboring areas.

With Poja’s death, Binag said all major drug personalities in Western Visayas have now been neutralized.