BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran lauded the accomplishment of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) for the neutralization of the two high-value targets (HVT) in the city.

Familiaran said Friday, May 25, the death of Ramy Poja and his cousin Roberto Lim, both residents of Barangay Banago, will reduce the drugs supply in Bacolod, especially in the area of Barangay Banago.

Poja and cousin Lim died in two separate shootout incidents at Sitio Sibucao, in Barangay Banago Thursday.

On February 25, agents of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Negros Occidental, along with operatives from City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), Regional Intelligence Unit, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Bacolod, swooped down Poja's house to serve him an arrest warrant, however, he was able to evade arrest by allegedly throwing two explosives at the authorities, though it did not explode.

On March 29, Poja's younger brother Rex, 36, of Barangay Estefania, an HVT, and right-hand Mario Ferrer, 43, of Barangay Banago was also arrested in a drug bust at Murcia Road in Barangay Singcang-Airport.

“I would like to commend our policemen for a job well done because it’s been a long time that Poja had escaped during the operations of police and members of the PDEA,” Familiaran said.

He said it’s a big accomplishment for BCPO.

He added those who engage in illegal drugs, it’s time for them to think and change their lives.

Familiaran disclosed that the participation of the public is a big help to address the problem.