BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has reported a decrease of 39.9 percent in the volume of eight focus crimes from January to June this year.
Figures released by the BCPO on Thursday showed a decline across all eight offenses, also known as index crimes, from 604 cases in the first half last year to only 363 for the same period in 2018.
Murder decreased by 58.3 percent — from 24 to 10 cases; homicide, 46.1 percent — from 13 to 7; physical injury, 44.5 percent — from 128 to 71; rape, 44 percent — from 59 to 33; robbery, 23.3 percent — from 107 to 82; theft, 41.2 percent — from 252 to 148; carnapping, 75 percent — from 4 to 1; and stealing of motorcycles, 35.3 percent — from 17 to 11.
The 363 cases of index crimes is part of the 1,486 total crimes in Bacolod in the first six months of 2018, including 1,123 cases of non-index crimes or violations of special laws.
Crime volume in Bacolod in the first half of the year dropped by 20.83 percent to only 1,486 cases from the previous year’s 1,877.
Chief Insp. Sherlock Gabana, public information officer of Bacolod police, said in a press conference on Thursday that records of index crimes in all 10 police stations decreased as a result of increased police visibility and patrol operations; and assistance from force multipliers.
He added that the involvement of communities in crime prevention efforts also contributed to the decline in the eight focus crimes.
Gabana said the homeowners associations in various residential subdivisions have also acted to control the entry of people and vehicles in their respective areas, which helped stop crimes.
First half data further showed an increase in police initiated operations against illegal drugs of 25 percent — from 32 to 40 operations; illegal gambling, 153 percent — from 17 to 43; illegal possession of firearms, 57.14 percent — from 7 to 11; and Batas Pambansa 6 (illegal possession of bladed weapons), 200 percent — from 1 to 3. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
