Bacolod City – The volume of crime incidents in Negros Occidental from January to May 15 this year, was reported by the police to have reduced by 23.53 percent, compared to the same period in 2024.
A report presented by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) during the 2nd Quarter Joint Provincial Peace and Order (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) meeting at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, showed that total crime incidents dropped from 1,649 in 2024 to 1,261 this year, which is a reduction of 388 incidents.
Index crimes, which include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping and theft of motorcycles, went down to 135, compared to 231 last year, registering a 41.56 percent reduction, the NOCPPO reports indicated.
Non-index crimes, which also include the campaign against illegal drugs and gambling, among other special laws, reduced to 845 this year, compared to 1,023 in 2024, which is a reduction of 17.40 percent.
In the campaign against illegal drugs, NOCPPO reported the arrest of 531 suspected drug personalities, and the recovery of 3.1 kilos of suspected shabu valued at P21,170,820, and dried marijuana leaves worth P18,761.
A total of 113 persons were arrested for the illegal possession of firearms, which led to the confiscation of 131 assorted guns while 167 other firearms were surrendered.
Manhunt operations of the NOCPPO against fugitives led to the arrest of 1,031 wanted persons.
NOCPPO attributed the downward trend in crime incidents to the religious conduct of Enhanced Managing Police Operations, Police Integrated Patrol System, intensified police visibility, checkpoint and law enforcement operations, as well as the implementation of local ordinances.
Implementation of best practices such as, but not limited to, the formulation of Action Plans and Armas Baylo Bugas, also contributed to the reduction of criminality in the province, it added. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)