Cotabato City crime rate down 45%

COTABATO CITY – Crime incidents in this city from January to July this year have decreased by as much as 45 percent as compared to the same period last year, police reported Monday.

The city police office recorded 143 crime incidents as of July 30 as compared to last year’s 315 crimes that were recorded on same period.   Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director, attributed the decline to the city’s aggressive campaign against criminality and the public’s support and cooperation to law enforcers.   

“The crime rate has been on the downward trend,” Octavio told reporters Monday morning, after last Friday’s City Peace and Order Council (CPPOC) meeting presided over by Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi. 

Octavio reported that the first seven months this year, only 172 index crimes and 228 non-index crimes were recorded. Index crimes refer to murder, frustrated murder, homicide, robbery, theft, and rape while non-index crimes refer to those covered by local laws like illegal gambling and illegal drugs and loose firearms. 

Octavio also reported that the city police crime solution efficiency has increased by 68 percent. 

Moreover, murder cases recorded by the city police during the period has decreased by 68 percent. Police records showed that 38 murder incidents have so far been reported since January as compared to the same period last year that chalked 119 cases. 

“All these accomplishments can be attributed to the nightly "Ronda" patrol, led by no less than our city mayor bolstered by the regular checkpoints and police visibility in known crime-prone areas,” Octavio said. 

To maintain its downward trend, Octavio reiterated his appeal for public support, especially against suspicious-looking individuals who are carrying firearms. (PNA)