The number of crimes committed in Negros Oriental went down by 8.22% in July this year compared to the same month last year.
Police Sr. Supt. Col. Dionardo Carlos of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office told the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) that a comparative crime volume decrease by 86 incidents or from 864 recorded in July 2014 to 778 incidents in both index and non-index crimes this year.
Index crimes decreased by 10 incidents or 2.26 percent while non-index crimes reduced by 76 incidents or 18.05 percent.
The most prevalent index crime is physical injury with 218 incidents or a reduction of 30 percent, followed by theft of 112 or 15 percent, carnapping with 16, and homicide and murder both with 11 incidents.
However, the police provincial director noted that the number of traffic-related incidents (474) contributed much to the crime statistics, while the prevalent non-index crimes or the violation of special laws recorded 128 incidents or contributed 17 percent of the total crime volume.
For RA 9165 or Anti-Illegal Drugs campaign, 34 drug personalities were arrested and 74.15 grams of shabu and 1.50 marijuana leaves confiscated with a total value of P875,052.50.
Under Republic Act (RA) 9287, or campaign against illegal gambling, the police force arrested 14 persons with a total bet money confiscated at P11, 711.50.
For the campaign against loose firearms or RA 8294, PNP arrested 10 persons and recovered and confiscated 17 firearms.
Col. Carlos said that Dumaguete, as the capital city of Negros Oriental, has the highest number of crime records with 172 incidents which include traffic-related events, among the six cities in the province.
But he added that Dumaguete’s total crime volume decreased by 114 incidents or 40 percent compared to July of last year with 286 crimes.
Col. Carlos cited that Negros Oriental remains to be one of the most peaceful provinces in Central Visayas, second to Siquijor. (PIA)
