BACOLOD CITY -- The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) has reported an average 20.21 percent decrease in crimes against persons and property in the region’s six provinces and two highly-urbanized cities from January to October this year.
Figures released by the PRO-6 on Sunday showed that 3,237 index crimes were recorded in the first 10 months of 2019 -- lower by 820 incidents from 4,057 reported during the same period in 2018.
With the lower crime volume, the PRO-6, headed by Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, said in a statement that Western Visayas remains to be one of the safest regions in the country.
Police units have been implementing operations such as those focusing on regular law enforcement activities, police visibility, and information operations.
The index crimes include the eight focus crimes of murder, homicide, robbery, theft, rape, physical injury and car and motorcycle theft as well as special complex crimes, wherein each incident involves two or more crimes.
From January to October, the eight focus crimes dropped by 20.4 percent or 827 incidents -- from the previous year’s 4,049 to only 3,222 in 2019.
Lower focus crime incidents were reported by Aklan Police Provincial Office (PPO) -- from 385 to 264 incidents, or a decrease of 31.42 percent; Capiz PPO -- from 482 to 304, or 36.9 percent; Guimaras PPO -- from 139 to 134, or 3.59 percent; Iloilo PPO -- from 760 to 647, or 14.86 percent; Negros Occidental PPO -- from 900 to 681, or 24.3 percent; and Bacolod City Police Office -- from 549 to 298, or 45.71 percent.
A minimal increase of 3.27 percent -- from 672 to 694 incidents -- was recorded by Iloilo City Police Office. Antique PPO posted a higher focus crime volume of 6.79 percent -- from 162 to 173.
Special complex crimes in Western Visayas increased from eight in 2018 to 15 this year, or by 87 percent. (PNA)
