Crimes
down by 18.17% — PRO-7
CEBU City – Crime statistics in Central
Visayas decreased for the past six months, highlighted by
the absence of bank robberies, kidnaps-for-ransom and media
killings, a police official said.
Senior Supt. Ramon Melvin Buenafe, Police
Regional Office 7 (PRO-7) intelligence division chief, said
Central Visayas had a total crime volume of 17,582 from January
to June last year.
For the same period this year, the numbers
dropped to 14,388 — a decrease of 3,194 cases or 18.17
percent, he said.
Index crimes dropped from 12,522 to 10,101
cases.
This city has the highest number of crimes,
with 3,291 index crimes and 935 non-index crimes.
Index crimes are those committed against persons and properties,
while non-index crimes are result of police-initiated operations
to enforce special laws, such as those against illegal drugs,
gambling, and loose firearms.
Negros Oriental followed, with a total crime
volume of 3,654 — 2,015 are index crimes and 1,639 are
non-index crimes.
Other provinces and cities had the following
total crime volumes:
* Cebu province – 3,231 (2,239 index
crimes, 932 non-index crimes)
* Bohol – 1,333 (1,058 index crimes, 275 non-index crimes)
* Lapu-Lapu City – 835 (575 index crimes, 260 non-index
crimes)
* Mandaue City – 975
* Siquijor province – 134
Meanwhile, Buenafe said, the proliferation
of loose firearms was a major factor contributing to the commission
of crimes.
Buenafe said out of 10,101 index crimes this
year, 863 were perpetrated using firearms.
In this category, the Cebu Provincial Police
Office posted the higher number of crimes, particularly physical
injuries (313).
Theft, physical injuries and robberies remain
the top three most prevalent crimes, PRO-7 reported to the
Regional Peace and Order Council.
Police said random checkpoints will continue,
as this is an effective tool in the campaign against loose
firearms.
PRO-7 Director Lani-o Nerez said another measure
the police are taking is to inventory firearms manufacturers
and distributors per region.
That way, Nerez said, regional police can
control the manufacturing and distribution of firearms and
prevent these from getting into the wrong hands.
There were 11,080 loose firearms listed in
the region while 1,512 were confiscated. A total of 819 people
were arrested while 664 were charged in court.
Police, though, have yet to account for more
than 30,000 loose firearms in Central Visayas, which has an
estimated 49,136 loose firearms. (PNA)
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