BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The crime volume in Negros Occidental decreased by 35.68 percent in the first six months of 2020, data from Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) showed.
NOPPO officer-in-charge Colonel Romy Palgue said robbery cases dropped by almost half at 49.02 percent, followed by theft cases at 48.68 percent.
He noted a decline in six other “focus crimes” – physical injury, theft, murder, rape, homicide, and motorcycle hijacking.
Physical injuries, according to Palgue, had a drop of almost 42 percent; while murder cases saw a 48.68 percent skid.
NOPPO recorded no cases of vehicles being stolen.
Palgue attributed the trend to the increased police presence in the streets due to implementation of the province-wide community quarantine to slow down or eliminate the possibility of coronavirus disease transmissions in Negros Occidental.
NOPPO also reported an increase of 8.37 percent in police initiated operations. The figure reflects increased police activities and initiatives to apprehend violators./PN
