BACOLOD City – Criminals, too, seems are sheltering in place amid the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic.
Police authorities in Negros Occidental and this capital city reported a 20-percent decrease in the volume of crimes after the enforcement of general community quarantine and border control as a precaution against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
NOCPPO reported the volume of eight focus crimes showed a significant drop from March 16 to 22 compared to the figures from March 9 to 15.
“The downtrend was observed following the implementation of the closure of borders through Executive Order No. 20-15 issued by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson,” a report of NOCPPO showed.
The eight focus crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping, and motorcycle theft.
NOCPPO director, Colonel Romeo Baleros, said police stations in all 12 component cities and 19 municipalities of the province conducted intensified police operations despite being at the frontline of quarantine control points.
“This resulted in the increase of police-initiated operations by 40 percent, including the implementation of special laws,” he added.
Incidents resulting from reckless imprudence or vehicular accidents also decreased by 57 percent as a result of the significant decrease in motorists and intensified presence of police officers on the streets enforcing travel restrictions.
“While the Philippine National Police is focused on preventing the spread of Covid-19, law enforcement operations will not be set aside. We have enough policemen to ensure public safety and peace and order,” Baleros said.
Meanwhile, crime volume in Bacolod was recorded at 32 or a decrease of 25.58 percent between March 15 and 21, the first week of the curfew implementation, records of Bacolod City Police Office on Monday showed.
Last year, a total of 43 crime incidents were reported during the same period.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, BCPO spokesperson, “normal police operations” continue while their personnel are tapped to enforce the general community quarantine in the city. (With PNA/PN)
