By Jennifer P. Rendon
For Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), there’s no fitting way to celebrate the National Crime Prevention Week other than the decrease of crime incidents in Western Visayas.
During the kick-off ceremony for the 26th NCPW celebration on Sept 1, PRO-6 trumpeted the decrease in crime volume in Western Visayas, as the region tries to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
During the pandemic, PRO-6 recorded 1,142 focus crimes from March to August 2020.
The eight focus crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of vehicles, and carnapping of motorcycles.
During the said period, focus crimes significantly dropped by 44.96 percent or 933 cases compared to 2,075 cases in the same period last year.
Western Visayas was placed under community quarantine in March to August wherein police officers were deployed to Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) all over the region.
“This could be attributed to the significant decrease of crimes in the region,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said.
Malong said the obedience of the public to quarantine protocols and staying at home are also important factors for the decrease in crimes.
Meanwhile, PRO-6 conducted a recorida to kick off the 26th NCPW. It started at Camp Delgado and went around Iloilo City’s major roads.
This year’s theme, Komunidad Pangalagaan nang Pandemya at Krimen ay Maiwasan,” highlights the value of unity to fight against the pandemic and prevent crime.
Different offices in the regional headquarters and nearby police stations joined to support the activity that focuses on combating criminality amidst the pandemic.
Malong said the observance of the NCPW hopes to generate awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of crime prevention and encourage interest and the participation of the general public.
“We hope that the celebration would emphasize the fact that crime prevention is a shared responsibility,” Malong said as she enthused the general public to do their share in preventing crimes from happening.
