ILOILO City – The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is believed to be a factor in the dramatic drop in crime rate across Western Visayas – 62.31 percent in a four-day period (March 16-19), according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
The drop was determined by comparing the number of crimes recorded in such period this year and last year.
PRO-6 data showed 130 crimes from March 16 to 19 this year, down by 215 incidents from the 345 cases recorded in the same days in 2019.
“The COVID-19 concern is a factor. Local government units have been urging people to stay at home. Business establishments have opted to close shop. Even petty crimes dropped,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson.
She also gave credit to the continuing police campaign against crimes.
The eight “focus crimes” – murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping, and “motornapping” – also dropped, PRO-6 data showed. It recorded 14 cases from March 16 to 19 this year, way below the 50 cases it recorded in the same period in 2019.
Murder cases dropped by 100 percent (from six incidents in 2019 to none this year).
Homicide cases posted a 50-percent plunge – from two last year to one this year.
Cases of physical injury went down by 66.66 percent – from 15 last year to five this year.
Rape cases declined, too – 71.42 percent (from seven last year to two this year).
The number of robbery cases, on the other hand, stayed the same at three.
Theft cases were down by 80 percent (from 15 to three cases).
No carnapping incidents last year and this year from March 16 to 19. There were two “motornapping” incidents last year; none this year.
The PRO-6 expects a further drop in crimes most especially in Iloilo City due to the lockdown of the metro ordered by Mayor Jerry Treñas.
“But the police won’t be complacent. There are opportunistic criminals. We are this urging people to remain in their houses and always keep their doors locked,” said Malong./PN
