CEBU CITY, Philippines – Fewer crimes have been reported in the central Visayas in the past two months, even though most localities here have already switched to more lenient quarantine restrictions that have allowed people to already leave their homes .

Data from the Central Visayas Regional Police Office showed a 16.41% drop in the crime rate from September 29 to November 28, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.

However, this positive development is no reason for police in the area to relax with the holiday season ahead, says. Brigadier General Roque Eduardo Vega, director of PRO-7.

Vega said there is always a need to ensure adherence to health protocols in particular during the holiday season, when people are expected to leave their homes to shop, take vacations or even attend gatherings.

“I urge the city and provincial directors to implement the new alert level system designed by the Ministry of Health to help prevent further transmission of the deadly virus during the festivities. In addition, maximum police visibility on business establishments and quarantine checkpoints should be strictly observed in coordination with local LGUs as an integral part of PNP border security measures, and protect the public from faithless criminals. nor law, ”Vega said in a statement.

Decreased crime rate

PRO-7 data showed that a total of 1,283 crimes were reported in the region from September 29 to November 29, 2021. This is 16.41% or 252 less than the 1,535 crimes reported during the same period last year.

During the two-month period, PRO-7 also arrested 1,242 drug figures and confiscated 19,220.576 grams of shabu worth 130.7 million pesos and 89,057.25 grams of marijuana worth 10.7 million pesos.

As part of the campaign against illegal gambling, police in the region arrested 2,483 gamblers in 931 separate operations they carried out and confiscated 258,431 P2 used as betting.

In addition, they recovered 1,135 bulk firearms from 161 operations throughout the region.

Collaborative effort

In a statement, Vega said, the drop in crime can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of all police units in the region.

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, police focused on implementing quarantine restrictions and operating border checkpoints.

With the improvement of the COVID-19 situation in the country this year and under the leadership of the director of the PNP, Police General Dionardo Carlos, they have already shifted their focus to already include the surveillance and security of commercial establishments in as part of their anti-crime campaign and also to step up their anti-drug efforts.

Since taking charge of the PRO-7 last month, Vega has also been very clear with his instructions on the need to reduce the crime rate in the Central Visayas and increase the effectiveness of the solution to the crime of different police units here.

READ: Mandaue City Police See Crime Rates Drop

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