Cordillera records dip in crime rate

THE Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-COR) continues to adhere to a strict law enforcement procedure against violators of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Baguio City and the Benguet Province, despite other provinces in the region which downgraded their status to general community quarantine or GCQ.

PRO-COR Director General R’win Pagkalinawan explained majority of the offences committed since the start of the ECQ including the ongoing GCQ are mostly gambling and drinking activities.

“Generally, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) remains low In terms of statistics when it comes to violations during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, however we noticed that the violations committed by citizens may probably be due to boredom with most of the violations committed in Baguio City and La Trinidad in Benguet Province,” Police Brigadier Pagkalinawan said.

The police director said as compared to other regions, PRO-COR still considers Cordilleran’s to be well mannered and disciplined.

“In terms of the general peace and order situation in CAR particularly since the start of the ECQ and GCQ, it estimated a 70 percent drop in the crime statistics based on previous data wherein with four cases happening prior to the ECQ, it recorded close to no crimes committed during the two month old ECQ,” the police regional director added.

However, Pagkalinawan does not discount the fact that due to the over zealousness of law enforcers in enforcing the ECQ, the possibility of them to commit abuses maybe committed against violators.

“For us to prevent this, we conduct simulation exercises at all Police Stations whenever we see violations committed by law enforcers particularly in a Metro Manila for our Police personnel in all Station to review the police operational procedures to know how to conduct arrests of supposed violators without abusing. The Cordillera Police is the home of the most disciplined police Regional command in the country which we continue to maintain,” the Regional Director stated.

On changes in the implementation of the GCQ from ECQ in five provinces in CAR, PRO-COR observed majority of the residents in the region have been accustomed to the process of ECQ in the areas that are now downgraded to GCQ.

“Apparently, the residents in the region do not look for the help coming from government. It looks like due to the culture of the Cordilleran’s on whatever crisis comes, their lives remain the same and continuous to follow government’s advice to stay at home during the GCQ and live their lives,” Pagkalinawan surmised.