ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) said this year’s Holy Week across Western Visayas was generally peaceful and orderly.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said no major crimes transpired.
The total crime volume from March 29 to April 3 across the region decreased by 21.98 percent –or from 232 incidents in 2020 to only 181 this year.
Malong said the peaceful observance of Lent could be attributed to quarantine restrictions imposed by local government units (LGUs), the enhanced police operations, implementation of “Oplan Ligtas summer vacation”, deployment of police personnel in strategic areas and the cooperation of barangay officials and the general public in the imposition of the health protocols.
“The closure of beaches, resorts and swimming pools were among the factors why our crime incidents decreased,” Malong said.
She added, however, that despite the curbs on resorts and beaches, six drowning incidents were recorded from March 29 to April 3: three from Negros Occidental; one from Iloilo City; one from the Iloilo province; and one from Guimaras.
However, Malong noted that vehicular accidents increased by 180 percent from the 30 cases recorded last year to 84 this year. These included four cases of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, 37 cases of physical injuries and 43 cases of damage to property.
Meanwhile, Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), said the closure of tourist destinations – little to none went outdoors – was a big help.
He said no major incidents took place, although there were people who were arrested for illegal cockfighting in far flung barangays.
“The effort shared by IPPO personnel, closely supervised by my police chiefs and in coordination with security, public safety and emergency responders who helped achieve our goal and objective, which was zero major incidents. Public cooperation in the observance of health protocols also lessened the burden of implementing the plan this Lenten season,” Gorero said./PN
