By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Criminal incidents in this city rose by 70 cases or 5.95 percent, from 1,175 in 2023 to 1,245 in 2024, according to data from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Police Lt. Col. Lester Leada, head of the Bacolod police Operations Management Unit, said operational accomplishments and traffic incidents contributed to the increase in the crime rate.
Index crimes, which include offenses against persons or property, remained consistent at 170 incidents for two consecutive years.
Among the eight focus crimes, theft topped the list with 56 cases, followed by rape with 38, murder with 36, robbery with 15, homicide with 10, carnapping with 8, and physical injury with 7.
The BCPO recorded a significant increase in murder cases last year, rising from 16 incidents in 2023 to 36 in 2024.
Leada said many of the murder cases stemmed from grudges, though some incidents were suspected to be drug-related.
Homicide and carnapping incidents each increased by one case, while robbery incidents rose by three.
However, rape and theft cases decreased by 18 and 6 incidents, respectively, from 56 and 62 cases in 2023.
Leada noted that most theft cases involved shoplifting but clarified that the city police had not detected any criminal gangs engaging in such activities. He added that poverty or even simple “tripping” might have driven some individuals to commit these offenses.
Non-index crimes, including violations of special laws, increased slightly by two cases or 0.28 percent, from 716 incidents in 2023 to 718 in 2024.
The BCPO reported an improvement in Crime Solution Efficiency, which reflects the percentage of suspects arrested and cases filed. It rose from 87.064 percent in 2023 to 88.755 percent in 2024, a 1.69 or 1.94 percent increase.
Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez earlier approved the BCPO’s suggestion to offer rewards for individuals who provide information leading to the identification of perpetrators, particularly in murder cases.
Leada said the reward system has helped the police solve some cold cases, though he has yet to disclose details about the rewards and the specific cases resolved through this initiative.
