Crime situation in Central Visayas down by 26%
By Juju S. Manubag
Cebu City (26 November) -- The crime situation in Central Visayas decreased by 26 percent from 29,994 to 22,213 crimes registered within January to October 2010.
Cebu City has registered the highest crime volume in the region followed by Cebu Province, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Mandaue City and Lapulapu City and Siquijor with a zero crime volume.
Police Sr. Supt Patrocinio Comendador Jr, chief of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Branch (RIDMB), Police Regional Office kon PRO-7 reported this during the Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis at the Kapihan sa PIA recently.
Comendador added that last year there was an increase in the crime incidence during Christmas season due to the influx of people to the urban centers.
Petty thefts are the top crimes committed during the Christmas season with 45 percent recorded within the region, the PRO-7 reported.
This is followed by physical injury cases at 20 percent, robbery with 18 percent and cattle rustling and rape at one (1) percent, Commendador added.
Comendador further reported that the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) has an average crime rate of 31 percent for its average monthly index crime rate and 27 percent for its AMCR o average monthly crime rate.
On the other hand, Police Sr. Supt. Louie Oppus, Deputy Regional Director for Operations commented on Comendador's report saying that he noticed an increased in crime incidences from May to October this year.
Oppus remarked that during those months, there were Police checkpoints all over the region because that was election season for the Barangay and SK.
Police visibility was evident during the Barangay & SK elections, but he wondered why crimes increased in those months. Oppus said, the Police have always been very transparent in its operations. (PIA-7/jsm) [top]
