Local drug lord Ramie Poja was killed after he and his men encountered Police Station 3 (PS3) personnel yesterday at Sitio Sibucao in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, said, just past 2:00 a.m., PS3 cops, led by station commander, Police Senior Inspector Victor Paulino, arrived in the area to serve an arrest warrant against individuals wanted for illegal gambling.

The event was initially peaceful and the suspects were taken into custody.

However, as they were about to withdraw, Paulino was informed Poja was located and found to be hiding in his residence, located in the said barangay, prompting him and several of his men to stay and attempt to arrest the wanted drug lord.

As operatives approached Poja’s hideout, the suspect and three unidentified gunmen, led by one referred to as ‘Alas,’ opened fire using various firearms, one of which was identified as an M16 assault rifle.

Paulino and his men returned fire hitting the suspects, including Poja, forcing them to withdraw.

During the gun battle, the PS3 commander was grazed by a bullet; while stray bullets struck a nearby house, shattering windows and wounding Jhodan Cordova and his mother, Erlinda.

Jhodan sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen, while Erlinda was shot in the index finger.

Both were rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital for treatment.

Later that afternoon, police returned with a larger force, led by Ebreo and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives, after learning Poja was still in the vicinity.

BCPO immediately sealed-off the area and another gun battle ensued, forcing residents to evacuate.

Police managed to gain control and killed Poja on the spot.

During the battle, police also killed another high-value drug target, identified as Roberto Lim, while they rushed Rusty Poja Constantino to the hospital after he was wounded in the fight.

Cops also managed to arrest Poja’s lover, identified as Claudine Bindol, and Cyril Jarina.

Earlier this year, Police Regional Office-6 director, Police Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, ordered law enforcement in Negros Occidental to capture Poja after he evaded a joint PDEA-BCPO raid back in February./DGB, WDJ