Crime rate down by 16.67%

By ERNAN BALDOMERO

SAN JOSE, Antique – The crime rate in the province has significantly decreased this year due to the pro-active police interventions and active support of the community, the Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO) disclosed.

APPO Director, Senior Supt. Ren Darroca said the total crime volume for the first three months this year dropped by 16.67 percent.

From January to March, the APPO recorded 125 cases. For the same period last year, there were 150 cases reported to police.

Furthermore, Darroca said the average crime rate was down 3.81 or a decrease of 18.24 percent.

Index crimes also known as crimes against person also decreased same as non-index crimes.

However, the crime solution efficiency went down from 90.67% to only 83.20%.
Based on the police records, physical injury remained to be the most prevalent crime in the province. About 39.81 percent of the total 108 index crimes recorded were cases of physical injury.

The following is the breakdown: Murder- 25.93 percent; homicide-15.74 percent; rape- 12.04 percent; robbery-3.72 percent; and theft-2.78 percent.

Non-index crimes or crimes against property included five cases in violation of RA 8294 (Illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions); four cases in violation of RA 9165 (Illegal Drugs); three cases of arson; and one case in violation of PD 705 (illegal logging).

Cases in violation of Batas Pambansa 6 (Estafa), Carnapping, Alarm and Scandal and Direct Assault upon an Agent in Authority were also recorded.

Majority of crimes against person’s decreased during the period against last year except for rape, Darroca said.

Theft cases slightly increased.

In its campaign against illegal fishing, Darroca said they apprehended a total of 84 persons and seized seven fishing vessels in the municipal waters of Caluya and Tobias Fornier.

Moreover, joint operations with other concerned government agencies resulted to the arrest of four persons for illegal logging and confiscated a total of 8,441.3 board feet of assorted lumber. They also recovered in other operations a total of 2,425 feet and six pieces of coconut logs.

Campaign against cattle rustling activities in the hinterland barangays of San Remigio resulted to the arrest of one person and recovery of four live large cattle.

Darroca said they also arrested 10 fugitives from the municipal level. They nabbed 73 other wanted persons.

Illegal drugs campaign operations led to the recovery of dried marijuana leaves and six sachets of shabu.

The police also arrested several suspected drug peddlers.

Darroca said the APPO activated the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) that cleared six drug-affected barangays and neutralized 37 suspected drug pushers in the province.

Campaign against loose firearms resulted to the arrest of six persons and confiscation of 18 assorted firearms.

In support to the campaign against criminalities, the provincial government gave P300,000 aid for the APPO Credit Cooperative which has 42 active members.

The cooperative aims to alleviate the living and economic conditions of police officers in the province.

The formation of the credit cooperative is also aimed to “graduate” the cops from private lending investors, usurers and loan sharks, according to Darroca.

Cops also received P250,000 for the second and third quarters this year.

Another project is the PNP Project Kalinga, which helps in processing welfare benefits for the law enforces such as death benefits and retirement claims, and gives honors and recognition to retired and newly promoted cops.

Police also provided security on all major activities including the Women’s Month Celebration, Binirayan Festival and Independence Day. They provided security to VIPs such as the visit of Vice-President Noli De Castro in the province last month.

APPO actively participated in rescue, relief and disaster management operations during the onslaught of Typhoon Frank. Among the police accomplishments is the rescue of 18 residents trapped in Brgy. Sido-San Juan in Sibalom and Brgy. Cadolonan in San Remigio.

Darroca said the cops could not afford to let their guards down because of the worsening economic crisis in the country./PN