BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The crime rate in Negros Occidental in the first quarter (January to March) of 2022 was lower compared to last year’s in the same period, data from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) showed.
The police reported a drop of 20 percent in “focus crimes” (murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, motorcycle/car hijacking).
From January to March 2021, NOCPPO recorded 161 crimes; this year, there were 130.
Murder incidents dropped by 34 percent (38 incidents this year from 50 last year).
Homicide cases, however, were up 50 percent (10 incidents recorded so far this year, up from five in 2021).
Robbery and theft incidents also rose to 15 and 27 incidents, respectively this first quarter; there were 14 robbery and 25 theft cases in the same period last year.
The NOCPPO, meanwhile, had not recorded any car hijacking this first quarter of 2022./PN
