LOWER CRIME VOLUME. Comparative crime statistics show a decrease of 34.59 percent in the total crime volume here from January to November this year compared to the same period in 2018. In the first 11 months this year, 1,715 crimes were recorded, which is lower by 907 incidents from last year’s 2,622. (PNA Bacolod photo)
BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has reported a decrease of 34.59 percent in the total crime volume here from January to November this year compared to the same period in 2018.
Data provided by Mayor Evelio Leonardia to reporters on Monday showed that in the first 11 months this year, 1,715 crimes were recorded, which is lower by 907 incidents from last year’s 2,622.
“There is a substantial decrease. This is practically a 35 percent decrease, which is more than one-third of the crimes last year,” the mayor said.
As of November 2019, index crimes or crimes against persons and property dropped by 44.03 percent or 258 incidents – from 596 last year to only 328 this year.
The police also refer to index crimes as the eight focus crimes, which include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping, and motorcycle theft.
A marked decrease was noted in robbery incidents, which went down by 47.69 percent – from 130 last year to only 68 incidents in 2019 – as well in theft cases, which dropped by 48.97 percent – from 243 in 2018 to only 124 incidents this year.
Rape cases decreased by 32.31 percent – from 65 to 44.
This year, only five motorcycle theft incidents were reported from the previous year’s 16, which is lower by 68.75 percent.
However, murder incidents increased by 22.73 percent – from 22 to 27 – along with homicide, which rose 33.3 percent – from 12 to nine, and carnapping, with two incidents this year, from only one in 2018, or an increase of 100 percent.
On average, Bacolod’s monthly index crime rate decreased by 44.03 percent – from 9.01 incidents last year to only 5.04 this year.
Moreover, non-index crimes, which include reckless imprudence to resulting in homicide, physical injuries and damage to property, and violations of special laws, among others, were down by 31.88 percent or 649 incidents – from 2,036 in 2018 to 1,387 in 2019.
Lower crime volume can be attributed to sustained operations against prevalent crimes as well as to increase awareness of Bacolod residents on crime prevention.
“Compared to other places, we are still, I believe, comparatively peaceful, but isolated cases can happen,” Leonardia said.
The mayor, referring to the murder cases of businessman Roberto Tan, brother of former councilor Ricardo Tan, and Muslim trader Ontao Sacar, said he directed Col. Henry Biñas, city police director, to conduct a thorough investigation so that the people will feel that the police is doing something about these cases. (PNA)
