BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) has reported a decrease of 64.42 percent in index crimes and 71.39 percent in non-index crimes in the first two months of 2018 compared to the figures for the same period last year.
Statistics released by the Nocppo on Wednesday showed that for the months of January and February this year, only 185 incidents of index crimes were recorded compared to 551 incidents in 2017.
Index crimes are offenses against persons and properties, including murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, and rape.
For non-index crimes, which are violations of special laws and ordinances, recorded were 237 incidents in the first two months this year as against 826 incidents last year.
The most common cases include violations of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and R.A. 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition as well as R.A. 9287 for illegal gambling.
Senior Supt. Rodolfo Castil Jr., police provincial director, said the decrease in crime statistics could be attributed to the Negros Occidental police’s massive campaign against criminality through the weekly enhanced managing police operation.
It is also a result of intensified police patrol and visibility operations, and the return of anti-illegal drugs campaign, he added.
Castil also acknowledged the cooperation of Negrenses in the campaign of the Philippine National Police against crimes and terrorism to make the province a safer place to live, work, and do business.
Earlier, the Bacolod City Police Office also reported a decrease of by 27.3 percent in crime incidents during the month of February.
In the past month, total crimes totaled to only 229, or 86 incidents less than last year’s 315 incidents for the same period.
Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, officer-in-charge of BCPO, said the marked decrease in the eight focus crimes could also be attributed to the effective application of enhanced managing police operation. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
