THE crime rate in Bacolod City decreased by 23.32 percent from January to November 2018.
Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, acting Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, said in a press briefing Thursday, December 6, that crimes decreased by 793 incidents, from 3,400 cases in 2017 to 2,607 incidents in 2018.
Ebreo said the average crime rate this year is 40.77 compared to last year’s 53.17, with a reduction of 12.40 or 23.32 percent.
For the eight focus crimes or crimes against persons and properties, 624 incidents were recorded in 2018 compared to last year’s 1,132 cases, with a decrease of 508 incidents or 44.88 percent.
Among the eight focus crimes, theft has the highest cases with 243; physical injury, 145; robbery, 130; rape, 58; murder, 22; motornapping, 16; homicide, 9; carnapping, 1.
Ebreo said crime reduction is the goal of every police offices in the country, particularly the decline in eight focus crimes.
If the eight focus crimes increases, it will affect the peace and order situation in a locality, he added.
For non-index crimes, 1983 cases were recorded this year as against the 2,268 incidents last year, with a reduction of 285 cases or 12.57 percent.
Under the non-index crimes, reckless imprudence resulting to homicide reached 35 cases this year compared to last year’s record of 20 incidents; reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries, 455 cases in 2018 compared to 234 incidents in 2017; and damage to properties, 419 cases this year as against last year’s data of 565.
With the available resources that we have, we are trying to maintain the reduction of crime rate through an Enhanced Managing Police Operations (Empo) conference weekly, Ebreo said.
Through Empo, we can assess and study effective ways to deter crimes, he added.
The Bacolod top cop is also encouraging the public, especially the local and barangay officials, and the stakeholders to cooperate in the anti-criminality campaign of the police.
He also stressed the important role of media in information dissemination.
Meanwhile, Ebreo also showed their accomplishment on anti-illegal gambling, with 349 operations and 1,006 persons arrested in 11 months. A total of 349 cases were filed.
In the campaign against wanted persons, 582 operations were conducted which resulted in the arrest of 328 persons. Of the total number, 46 were most wanted persons and 282 were other wanted persons.
For the campaign against loose firearms, 85 operations were conducted and 87 persons were charged for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
The BCPO has recovered and confiscated 17 high-powered firearms, 25 low-powered firearms, 52 homemade firearms, and three explosives.
A total of 80 high-powered firearms, 116 low-powered firearms, and 10 homemade firearms were surrendered to the authorities. (GYM)