By Jennifer P. Rendon
Western Visayas recorded fewer crimes in the first semester of 2024, according to records from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6.
From 6,250 incidents logged from January to June 2023, the number dropped to 5,529 in 2024, an 11.68 percent decrease.
Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, PRO-6 spokesperson, said these incidents fall under the Peace and Order Index (POI), which includes both index and non-index crimes.
Index crimes for the first half of 2024 reached 1,095, a decrease of 339 cases or 23.64 percent compared to last year’s 1,434.
Non-index crimes for the same period were at 4,434 cases, an 8.22 percent decrease compared to 4,826 cases in 2023.
The eight focus crimes—murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of motor vehicles, and carnapping of motorcycles—also declined. From 1,428 incidents in January to June 2023, the number dropped to 1,089 cases in 2024.
Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, attributed the lower crime incidents to the collaboration among the police, local government units, the community, and other stakeholders.
“I thank everyone for their invaluable contributions resulting in the downward trend of crime incidents. The police cannot do it alone. We achieved this because of your support and contributions. It is our goal that this descending trend will continue,” he said.
The region’s top cop also assured that the police would continuously intensify its campaign against all forms of criminality.
