BY GWYNETH MONARES
ILOILO City – Western Visayas has witnessed an 11% reduction in crime rates in the first half of 2024, as reported by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, the PRO-6 spokesperson, the decrease encompasses both index and non-index crimes included in the Peace and Order Index (POI).
Index crimes saw a significant decline, dropping to 1,095 cases this year from last year’s 1,434 — a decrease of 23.64%.
Similarly, non-index crimes also fell by 8.22%, from 4,826 cases in 2023 to 4,443 cases in the same period this year.
The PRO-6 also reported fewer instances across eight focus crimes, which include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, theft, and the carnapping of motor vehicles and motorcycles. These incidents decreased from 1,428 in the first half of 2023 to 1,089 in 2024.
Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, attributes this positive trend to the collaborative efforts between law enforcement, local government units, community members, and other stakeholders.
“I thank everyone for their invaluable contributions resulting in the downward trend of crime incidents,” Wanky said.
“The police cannot do it alone. We achieved this because of your support and contributions. It is our goal that this descending trend will continue,” he said./PN
