LEGAZPI CITY — The Bicol region recorded more than 30-percent decline in index crime in January to April this year, owing to an increased police presence to the community.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Senior Insp. Ma. Luisa Calubaquib, in an interview Thursday, cited data of investigation and operation division of the police regional office indicating that total index crimes dropped to 1,779 cases in the first four months from 2,564 cases during the same period last year.
In January to April this year, total index crimes recorded were murder-134, homicide-28, physical injuries-404, rape-138, robbery-255, theft-708, carnapping-108, and cattle rustling-4.
The index crimes are classified as crimes against person and property.
Calubaquib also attributed the decline to police actions taken during investigations that led to high crime solution efficiency, and active police community relations.
“Based from data of the six provinces in Bicol Region, including the chartered city of Naga, Catanduanes is the only province had increased the index crime. From 81 cases of January to April in 2017, it increased to 106 of the same period,” she said.
Index crimes in Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate and Sorsogon decreased during the four-month period.
The Naga City Police Office noted a decrease from 502 cases last year compared to 425 this year, but still it recorded the second highest number of cases in the total index crimes in Bicol region.
Camarines Sur recorded the highest number of index crime.
Naga City has 202,803 number of population, the smallest compared with the number of population of the six provinces, but still it has the number of average monthly crime rate with 52.39 percent.
Calubaquib admitted this is the reason why Naga City topped the index crime nationwide because of the highest average monthly crime rate compared with the number of population.
She added the province of Masbate had increased the number of murder cases from 39 last 2017 to 54 cases this year, which some cases were attributed in the last election period. (Jorge Hallare/PNA)
