MAN POWER

Crime incidence in Bicol drops by 12%
By Mar S. Arguelles

LEGAZPI CITY --- Heightened campaign on crime prevention and police visibility may have been the major factors that saw a drop in crime incidence in Bicol by 12.09 percent during the first six months of this year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported during the meeting of the Bicol Regional Peace and Order Council (BPROC) held here recently.

At the meeting, Police Supt. Adelio B. Castillo, Regional Operations Division chief, disclosed that a total of 5,527 crime incidences in Bicol were recorded in the first half of this year.

This is 760 incidences lower compared to the same period last year which stood at 6,287 cases of various crimes, the PNP said.

Of the total crime incidence for the first semester this year 3,051 were index crimes while 2,476 were non-index crimes. Index crimes are those in violation of the revised penal code while non-index crimes are those in violation of special laws and local ordinances.

The figures were collated from reports by the region’s six police provincial commands, 107 municipal police stations, and seven city police stations, Castillo said.

Most prevalent among the index crimes committed, according Castillo’s report were for physical injury with 1,320 cases or 43.26 percent, followed by theft with 856 cases or 28.06 percent, robbery with 389 cases or 12.75 percent, murder with 197 cases or 6.46 percent, rape with 133 cases or 4.36 percent, homicide with 89 or 2.92 percent , carnapping with 55 cases or 1.8 percent, and cattle rustling with 12 cases or .39 percent.

Castillo said Albay had the highest crime incidences with 1,609, followed by Masbate with 1,154 cases. Catanduanes, on the other hand, registered the lowest with 305 cases.

Crime solution efficiency was reported at 24.63 percent, which means that of the total 5,527 cases, only 1,342 ended as solved during the reporting period, although this may be 15.95 percent higher than the 8.33 percent crime solution efficiency reported during the same period last year.

Castillo said some 388 additional new policemen were recruited last year which contributed to better police visibility, especially in identified crime-prone areas where they were mostly assigned.

This year, he disclosed, a total of 327 new policemen will be recruited to further boost the manpower strength of the PNP in Bicol.



I believe in the power of man power. Haha. Well, as you’ve read, police visibility contributed to the decrease of crime in Bicol region. From 6, 287 recorded crimes last year, it dropped down to 5,527. In short, 760 right violators took vacation in other places. Maybe in Quiapo, Tondo or if classy, abroad.