By Jennifer P. Rendon
For many around the globe, the year 2020 was off to a bad start.
But as far as crime incidents are concerned, the first half of the year saw a favorable climate for Western Visayas.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) on Friday said that focus crimes decreased by 35.49 percent in the first semester.
The region recorded 1,314 crime incidents, lower from last year’s 2,037 cases in the same period.
Crimes against property – robbery and theft – registered the biggest decrease.
Theft is down by 49.21 percent – from 512 to 260 cases. Robberies decreased by 40.08 percent – from 237 to 142 cases.
Carnapping, which mostly involves motorcycles, recorded 41 cases compared to last year’s 62, or a decrease of 33.87 percent.
“For the good part of the year, people are stuck at their homes. This limits the opportunity of criminals to go on robbery,” Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, PRO-spokesperson, said.
The public’s curtailed mobility also prevented the criminals from having opportunities to carry out their activities.
Meanwhile, rape posted the highest decrease in crimes against persons at 36.17 percent.
For the first six months of the year, 217 rape cases were reported compared to last year’s 340.
Homicide incidents are also down by 31.85 percent; physical injuries by 31.06 percent; and murder by 10.3 percent.
Gorero said the decrease in crime statistics could also be attributed to the authorities in quarantine control points (QCPs) and the strict enforcement of curfew and liquor ban while the region is on enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
He also cited the police’s 24/7 sustained patrol operation and police presence, vigorous implementation of the Inter-Agency Task Force guidelines, and the strong partnership with other law-enforcement agencies.
He also urged the public to continue their cooperation by reporting any untoward incident to the nearest police station.
