Western Visayas holiday crimes down by 68%

Crimes in Western Visayas during the holiday season decreased by 67.75 percent.

Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas, in a text message Wednesday, January 3, said 1,977 incidents were recorded in 2016 compared to only 841 cases in 2017.

The occurrence of eight focus crimes dropped by 609 incidents or a decrease of 76.41 percent in 2017 compared to 794 cases in 2016.

Also, Gorero said there is a reduction of firecracker-related incidents, with 48 cases, 57 injured in 2016 compared to 44 incidents with 44 injured in 2017.

Gorero said the decrease is attributed to the elimination of all types of focus crimes and other non-index crimes as well as violations of special laws.

On stray bullet and indiscriminate firing, Gorero said they almost achieved a goal of zero-related incident in 2017 except for one reported in Buruanga, Aklan, but still subject for verification. Last year, they have recorded 20 incidents with 15 injured persons.

In Bacolod City, the celebration of New Year was generally peaceful with no significant incidents.

Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, public information officer of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the intensified campaign on “Ligtas Paskuhan 2017” resulted to the decrease in the number of firecracker-related cases in the city.

There were also no incidents of indiscriminate firing and stray bullets, she added.

Vargas said that information dissemination among all sectors in the city through the tri-media resulted to the public’s awareness of the implementation of Executive Order 28, providing for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, and Republic Act 7183 or an Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices.

In Negros Occidental, no cases of indiscriminate firing and stray bullet were recorded in 2017 compared to five incidents in 2016.

From 66 firecracker-related incidents last year, 11 were injured in 2017, based on the latest record of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.

Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., police provincial director, said “I am glad that our intensified campaign on ‘Ligtas Paskuhan’ and ‘Iwas Paputok’ has a peaceful outcome.”

Castil lauded the policemen’s efforts in maintaining peace and order during the holiday season.

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