• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) reported a reduction of 329 crime incidents in the past eight months of the year compared to the same period in 2023.
The report was presented during the joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council held at Negros Residences in Bacolod City on Thursday (Sept. 5).
PLt. Col. Edison Garcia, NOCPPO deputy provincial director for operations, said that from January to August this year, crime incidents reduced to only 2,708 compared to 3,037 in the same period last year.
Index crimes, which involve crimes against persons such as murder, homicide, physical injury and rape, and crimes against property such as robbery, theft, carnapping and cattle rustling, decreased from 509 in 2023 to 315 this year.
Non-index crimes or violation of special laws slightly increased to 1,796, from 1,705 last year.
In the campaign against illegal drugs, NOCPPO records indicated the recovery of P27.697 million worth of suspected shabu and dried marijuana leaves from 827 arrested drug suspects.
NOCPPO also recovered 114 firearms from 100 persons arrested by the police in 101 operations.
A total of 1,968 violators were arrested for illegal gambling, which yielded P497,814 in alleged cash bets.
Garcia attributed the downward trend in crime incidents to the religious conduct of enhanced managing police operations, police integrated patrol system and intensified police visibility, law enforcement and checkpoint operations, and implementation of local ordinances.
He added that the implementation of best practices and initiatives such as Oplan Dasig (One Button SMS), adaptation of the action plans on prevailing crimes and “Armas Baylo Bugas” also contributed to the reduction of criminality in the province. | GB
