• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has reported a drop of 23.26 percent in shooting incidents across the region during the implementation of the Safer Cities Program.
PRO-NIR logged 33 shooting incidents during the 43-day campaign from April 6 to May 18, 2026, compared with 43 incidents recorded during the preceding 43-day period from February 22 to April 5.
The figures translate to 10 fewer shooting incidents during the program’s implementation.
In a statement, the PRO-NIR attributed the decline to increased police visibility, proactive interventions, intelligence-driven operations, timely response, and stronger cooperation among law enforcement units, local government officials, community leaders, and residents.
PRO-NIR Director PBGen. Romano Cardiño said the reduction reflects the collective efforts of police personnel and the communities they serve.
Stressing that the reduction in shooting incidents is more than just a positive figure, he said behind these numbers are communities that experienced fewer violent incidents, families that were spared from fear, and lives that may have been protected.
The Safer Cities Program aims to bring police services closer to communities and improve the capability of police units to identify and address potential security threats before they escalate.
Despite the improvement, Cardiño said the police will not be complacent and will sustain preventive and responsive measures to further reduce violent incidents across Negros Island.
He urged the public to support crime prevention efforts by reporting incidents and providing information that could help authorities prevent violence, including through the SAFE NIR Dial 911 hotline. | GPB
