FRONTLINERS. An officer of Bago City Police Station in Negros Occidental assists health personnel who take the body temperature of drivers and commuters in the border checkpoint of the southern Negros city. Intensified police operations continue in the province which has resulted in lower crime volume even as policemen are being deployed at the frontline of quarantine control points. (Photo courtesy of Bago City Police Station)
BACOLOD CITY – Crime volume in Negros Occidental and this capital city decreased by at least 20 percent after the enforcement of general community quarantine and border control across the province as a precaution against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
On Monday, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) reported that the volume of eight focus crimes dropped by an average of 20 percent for the period March 16 to 22 compared to the figures from March 9 to 15.
“The downtrend was observed following the implementation of the closure of borders through Executive Order No. 20-15 issued by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson,” a report of NOCPPO released on Monday showed.
The eight focus crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping, and motorcycle theft.
Col. Romeo Baleros, provincial police director, said the police stations in all 12 component cities and 19 municipalities of the province conducted intensified police operations despite being at the frontline of quarantine control points.
“This resulted in the increase of police-initiated operations by 40 percent, including the implementation of special laws,” he added.
Incidents resulting from reckless imprudence or vehicular accidents also decreased by 57 percent as a result of the significant decrease in motorists and intensified presence of police officers on the streets enforcing travel restrictions.
“While the Philippine National Police is focused on preventing the spread of Covid-19, law enforcement operations will not be set aside. We have enough policemen to ensure public safety and peace and order,” Baleros said.
Meanwhile, crime volume in Bacolod was recorded at 32 or a decrease of 25.58 percent between March 15 and 21, the first week of the curfew implementation, records of Bacolod City Police Office on Monday showed.
Last year, a total of 43 crime incidents were reported during the same period.
Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, public information officer of BCPO, said that “normal police operations” continue while their personnel are tapped to enforce the general community quarantine in the city. (PNA)
