By Hilda Austria/PNA
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Senior Supt. Wilson Lopez, provincial director of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO), on Thursday said the province has been generally peaceful this year as the recorded incidents of shooting are isolated cases.
Lopez said index crimes, or crimes against persons and property such as murder, homicide and robbery, rhad 2,048 incidents from Jan. 1 to Dec. 10 this year, 25.7 percent lower compared to the 2,575 incidents during the same period last year.
While non-index crimes rose by 22.3 percent with 15,778 this year compared to last year’s 12,857, he explained that the increase in violations of special laws indicates the police is working to reduce crime.
“Ang index crime ay trabaho ng mga masasamang loob, pero ang non-index crimes ay nangangahulugang nagtatrabaho ng husto ang inyong kapulisan (Index crimes show the activities of criminals, while non-index crimes mean your police is working well),” Lopez said.
The shooting incidents, he said, are isolated cases and Pangasinan police either has arrested the suspects or filed cases against the suspects.
“May mga shooting incidents during my time pero naaksyunan naman natin lahat (There were shooting incidents during my time (as acting provincial director) but we did our part in order to solve these shooting incidents),” Lopez said.
“The testimony and identification of the living witness Cesar Salosagcol led to the referral of a case of frustrated murder against Alberto Jimenes. We also filed another case to the suspect because of his possession of an unlicensed gun,” he added, referring to the shooting of former Councilman Levin Uy and Salosagcol of Bayambang town.
Lopez further said the suspect in the gunning of Councilmen Benjamin Oculto Jr. and Ely Ramos of Sto. Tomas town was also arrested and a case of murder was filed against him.
Appropriate charges were also filed against the suspects in the shooting of Froilan Agbayani of Sual, former barangay councilman Rio Sales of Bugallon, and barangay councilman Domingo Ramirez of San Fabian, he added.
“We have a big province, there are really shooting incidents but this is not alarming because Pangasinan police are not neglecting their duty,” he said.
Lopez also asked the families of the victims to cooperate with them.
“Pulis nyo po kami. Kung may maibabahagi kayong impormasyon sa ikabubuti ng lahat at para maresolba ang kaso, ang number ko po ay nasa inyo, bukas po ang aking linya at handa kaming tumugon sa inyo (We are your policemen. If you have any information for the good of everybody and to resolve the case, my number is with you, my line is always open and we are ready to accommodate your concerns),” he added.
Lopez further said they are already preparing for the upcoming 2019 elections.
