Bacolod crimes drop by 30% in 8 days

THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has recorded a 30.12 percent reduction on crimes in the city from August 1 to 8.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, acting BCPO director, in a press briefing on Thursday, said 58 incidents were recorded this year compared to last year's 83 cases, covering the same period.

Ebreo said Bacolod City remains generally peaceful with the non-existence of high-profile crimes, political killings, kidnap for ransom, bank robbery, terrorist bombing, and liquidation of prominent personalities.

For the same period, index or eight focus crimes like murder, homicide, robbery, theft, physical injuries, motornapping, carnapping, and rape reached 18 as against the 25 incidents reported last year. It has a reduction of seven cases or 28 percent.

Among the eight focus crimes, theft is leading with five incidents this year, followed by robbery and physical injuries with four cases each, rape 2; and murder, homicide, and motornapping, with one incident each.

No carnapping incidents were recorded.

Non-index crimes totaled to 40 cases this year compared to 58 incidents in 2017, with a decrease of 18 cases or 31.03 percent.

Homicide and physical injuries cases in relation to traffic accidents increased with two and nine incidents, respectively, while damage to properties decreased with seven cases.

Police-initiated operations decreased by 38.71 percent from 31 operations last year to 19 this year.

For the anti-illegal gambling campaign, BCPO has conducted five operations which resulted in the arrest of 14 persons and filing of five cases.

BCPO has also conducted 20 operations against most wanted persons, with the apprehension of one most wanted persons and eight other wanted persons.

For the anti-loitering campaign, 74 operations were conducted and 68 minors were rescued.

Ebreo, meanwhile, said they are lobbying with the city council if they can pass an ordinance prohibiting drinking liquors in public places for the strict implementation of the police's anti-loitering campaign.