Crime rate drops in La Trinidad

AUTHORITIES in La Trinidad noted a significant decrease in crime volume for the first half of 2016 as compared to last year.

La Trinidad Municipal Police Office (LTMPO) Chief Radino Belly said the drop off in crime incidents in the Valley is evident showing results of 30.80 percent lower or 943 total incidents compared to 1,541 in the first seven months of 2015.

Apart from the vehicular traffic accidents (VTA) which tops the police’s list with 1,407, theft and physical injuries are still the prevalent crimes committed in the municipality.

From January to July, theft cases lowered to 178 compared to 381 and 266 of the same months in 2014 and 2015 respectively, while physical injuries dropped to 64 cases compared to 112 and 131 of the same years.

Robbery, the third highest number of crime recorded, reduced to 19.39 percent from 98 (2015) to 79 (2016).

The police chief also noted carnapping (motorcycles and vehicles), rape, murder and homicide have also gone down.

Belly added the intensified operations of the PNP particularly on illegal drugs had a huge effect on the lowering of crime rates in the Valley.

“We really see the effect of our intensified police operations, of course apart from dealing with the marching orders against illegal-drugs, our personnel have also stepped up to secure peace and order here in La Trinidad,” Belly told Sun.Star Baguio.

The police chief added there will be no let up in their continued effort to maintain the peace and order in the Valley particularly during the peak season of tourist arrivals.

“We have our strategic plans to continue this effort even for the last quarter where visitors come in for the holidays and the weekends. The community is also encouraged to continue helping the local police in solving and better yet preventing crime in La Trinidad,” he added.

Although the town’s police force is undermanned, Belly said they are confident to maintain security and order in their jurisdiction.