Cop chief, 2 civilians hurt in shootout vs drug group

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A police station chief and two civilians were injured in a gunbattle yesterday with members of a local drug group, while the police were conducting anti-illegal gambling operations at sitio Sibucao in Barangay Banago of Bacolod City.

A team of Bacolod City Police Office Station 3 operatives, led by Senior Inspector Victor Paulino, were on their way back to their station, when they chanced upon and fired at by alleged members of the Poja Drug Group, whose leader Ramy Poja was residing in the area.

Paulino, BCPO Station 3 chief, was hit in the left thigh, while two civilians --- identified as Jordan Cordova, 20,  and his mother Erlinda, 63, --- were also hit by stray bullets.

Poja, who ranked number one in the BCPO wanted list and alleged drug supplier in Bacolod City, managed to escape from numerous police operations conducted by the BCPO in the past several years now.

Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, BCPO spokesperson, said Paulino was brought to a private hospital in the city for his injury. Cordova and his mother were were hit by stray bullets, while they were sleeping inside their house. The origin of bullets that hit the two has yet to be determined though.

Vargas said traces of bloodstains, believed to be those of the fleeing suspects led by Poja, were discovered along their withdrawal route.