• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A significant decline in crime volume and intensified operations against illegal drugs marked the first 100 days of PBrig. Gen. Romano Cardiño as director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR).
From May 8 to Aug. 16 this year, total crime incidents in the region dropped by 11.83 percent, from 2,502 incidents recorded during the previous comparative period to 2,206 incidents under Cardiño’s leadership.
The reduction translates to 296 fewer reported incidents, reflecting what PRO-NIR described as a generally favorable movement in the region’s peace and order situation.
The eight focus crimes also decreased by 19.59 percent, from 296 to 238 incidents. Among the notable reductions were murder, which fell by 24.39 percent; homicide, 46.34 percent; physical injury, 38.24 percent; theft, 7.02 percent; and motorcycle carnapping, 38.46 percent.
In a statement, the PRO-NIR attributed the reduction particularly to decreases in damage to property, physical injury, and homicide arising from vehicular incidents.
Aside from the decline in crime volume, PRO-NIR also stepped up its campaign against illegal drugs by conducting 761 operations, which led to the arrest of 822 drug suspects, and the seizure of 19.9 kilos of suspected shabu and 1,422 grams of marijuana, with an estimated combined street value of P136.008 million.
Despite the overall favorable crime trend, PRO-NIR acknowledged that rape incidents increased by 6.82 percent while robbery rose by 13.64 percent during the comparative period.
These increases highlight the need to sustain police visibility, strengthen investigation and prevention efforts, and deepen community-based interventions.
The administration of Cardiño also launched the SAFE NIR Dial 911 Program on June 4, providing residents with a more direct channel for requesting police assistance and reporting incidents.
From its launch through Aug. 16, the program received 364 calls that resulted in the arrest of 53 individuals. | GPB
