By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 achieved its goal to reduce crime incidents after logging fewer cases in 2021.
PRO-6 records indicated that 17,710 crime incidents were reported in 2021, which is lower by 4,008 cases (18.45 percent) against 21,718 cases in 2020.
Iloilo province logged 4,287 incidents while Iloilo City has 4,089, followed by Negros Occidental (3,552), Capiz (1,832), Bacolod City (1,384), Aklan (1,204), Antique (948), and Guimaras (414).
PRO-6 explained that the crime volume is the tally of both index, non-index crimes, and public safety index cases.
Index crimes are crimes against persons and property. The eight focus crimes – murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping and motor-napping – fall under the category of index crimes, which has been used to determine how crime-prone an area is.
Non-index crimes, on the other hand, are all other illegal acts, usually covered by special laws, like illegal drugs, illegal logging and gambling, and the likes.
Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, PRO-6 spokesperson, said that an area might register a higher crime volume because of the public safety index, which usually incorporates vehicular incidents.
“So, maski natumba ka lang sa motorsiklo, that will form part of the crime volume,” Solis said.
This is the reason why Iloilo City, despite its land area, has a high crime volume compared to some provinces in the region.
“Iloilo City registered the highest number of public safety incidents because of the number of reported vehicular incidents,” Solis said.
But still, Iloilo City registered the biggest drop in crime incidents with 2,593, or a 38.8 percent reduction from last year’s 6,682 incidents.
Guimaras posted a 23.61 percent drop or 128 incidents after recording 542 cases in 2020.
Aklan has a 21.46 percent drop or 329 incidents against the previous year’s 1,533 cases.
Meanwhile, Solis said the number of eight focus crimes also slightly reduced by 3.37 percent. From 2,845 cases in 2020, it decreased to 2,749 in 2021.
Solis attributed the reduction of crime incidents across the region to the regular of Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO) of all concerned police units.
EMPO widens the anti-criminality operational plan on regular law enforcement activities through police presence and focused operations; security measures through target hardening, and border controls.
Through EMPO, police will also strengthen their social investigation, through maximum use of quad media in intensifying public awareness, contingency planning through regular conduct of SIMEX, CEREX, and COMMEX; organization of red teams to challenge security preparations, feedback mechanism and offensive silence through tactical operations.
Solis also cited the support given by the local government units, village officials, force multipliers, and PNP advocacy support groups.
Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo, Western Visayas police chief, has also commended unit commanders and personnel for their efforts in the maintenance of peace and order.
“Maraming salamat sa patuloy nyong dedikasyon at sipag para mapanatiling tahimik at mapayapa ang inyong lugar. Pero hindi dito nag tatapos ang ating trabaho, ipagpatuloy at pahusayin pa natin ang ating kampanya kontra kriminalidad. Sa ating mga force multipliers, advocacy support groups, Barangay Officials at Lokal na Pamahalaan maraming salamat sa inyong supporta, sana ipagpatuloy nyo ang inyong malakas na supporta sa inyong Kapulisan. Nakita na natin na masmalaki ang tagumpay na ating nakakamtan kung tayo ay nagtutulongan,” Dongbo said.
