Bacolod City – Crime incidents increased by 562 incidents, or 15.74 percent, in Negros Occidental from January to December 15 this year, compared to the same period in 2021, according to a year-end report of the provincial police office.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office reports showed an increase of crime incidents to 4,132, compared to 3,570 in the previous year.
In the same period, the 8 Focus crimes, composed of theft, rape, murder, robbery, physical injuries, homicide, motorcycle and motor vehicles theft, also rose from 603 to 695, registering a 15.26 percent increase.
While he was satisfied with the performance of NOCPPO, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who presided over the joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, said the increase in minor crime incidents was because “we opened up,” compared to last year, where there was a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But it is manageable, as far as the police is concerned, Lacson added.
Incidents of theft topped the 8 Focus Crimes that were committed at 172, followed by rape -157, murder -145, robbery – 91, physical injuries – 65, homicide – 40, motorcycle theft – 24 and carnapping of motor vehicle – 1.
The average monthly crime rate, recorded at 12.45 per 100,000 population, also increased by 15.74 percent, compared to 10.75 in the previous year, while the NOCPPO crime solution efficiency went down to 82.87 percent from 87.76 percent.
In the campaign against illegal drugs, NOCPPO have arrested 843 drug personalities, confiscated 1.5 kilos of suspected shabu and more than 8.5 kilos of marijuana with a total market value of P107,580,781. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)