BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – To deter crimes perpetrated by motorcycle-riding suspects, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) is beefing up police checkpoints in strategic areas across the province.
Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, NOCPPO spokesperson, said all police stations were mandated to establish three checkpoints in their respective jurisdictions.
“It’s a challenge for use since criminals are also cautious of police presence. However, we are trying our best to control crime incidents,” Donasco said.
She urged Negrenses to be vigilant and not fall victims by lawless elements.
From January to December 2020, the NOCPPO reported a 27.16 percent decrease in “focused crimes” – murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, and carnapping of vehicles and motorcycles.
Donasco said 622 index crimes were recorded last year, a 232-case drop from 854 cases in 2019.
Last year, 176 murder cases were recorded, followed by rape with 154, physical injuries, 106, theft, 70, robbery, 53, homicide, 48, and motornapping, 15.
NOCPPO was not able to record carnapping incident in 2020.
Murder and homicide incidents reduced by 87 percent and 17 percent, respectively, while robbery and theft cases reduced by 48 percent and 55 percent, respectively.
Rape cases also dropped by 3.75 percent.
The average monthly crime rate last year was down by 8.74 percent, compared to 9.01 percent in 2019.
NOCPPO recorded 92.14 percent crime clearance efficiency, wherein cases were filed but suspects were at large, while 78.69 percent were recorded for crime solution efficiency, wherein cases were filed and suspects were identified and arrested.
Donasco said the restrictions on the movement of people brought by the pandemic contributed to the reduction of crimes, considering that people were strictly advised to stay at home./PN
