INTERCEPTED. The Anini-y Municipal Police Station in Antique intercepts in a checkpoint at Barangay San Francisco a sports utility vehicle loaded with 21 boxes of Tanduay on Wednesday (May 20, 2020). The police urged the public to adhere to the liquor ban, which remains in effect in Antique. (Photo courtesy of APPO)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The total crime volume in Antique province dropped by 27 percent due to the strict implementation of the community quarantine in the past two months, the police said here on Thursday.
Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO) information officer, Capt. Grace Saldajeno, in an interview, said 197 crime incidents were recorded in the province from January to February this year, but down to 143 from March to April.
She said the reduced number of total crime incidents include index crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injury, and non-index such as gambling.
The province was under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 16, 2020 until April 30, 2020 and general community quarantine (GCQ) starting May 1.
“The liquor ban, aside from the curfew, had been a big factor to the reduction of the crimes committed in the province,” Saldajeno said.
She said that many of the crimes were committed by perpetrators while under the influence of alcohol.
She said that Provincial Ordinance Number 2020-204, which bans the transport, sale, and consumption of intoxicated drinks during the ECQ and GCQ, is strictly enforced.
“We urge the public to cooperate with the police as we are still facing the problem on Covid-19,” she said.
On Wednesday alone, she said local police stations in the province seized 54 boxes and 54 bottles of alcoholic drinks through checkpoints and entrapment operations leading to the arrest of four individuals.
Thirty-nine boxes of Tanduay Rhum are currently in the custody of the Anini-y Municipal Police Station (MPS).
Of the 39 boxes, 21 were intercepted through a checkpoint at Barangay San Francisco in Anini-y town.
They were loaded in a Montero sports utility vehicle driven by Arlie David of Barangay Balanac, Janiuay, Iloilo.
The other 18 boxes were left by an unidentified driver of a white van with no plate number to Rosemarie Gerona of Barangay San Roque, Anini-y.
Meantime, 15 boxes of Emperador were seized in a checkpoint in Caluya port, Caluya.
The 54 bottles were seized in two entrapment operations in this capital town. (PNA)
