W. Visayas crime volume reduces by 17% — PRO-6

ILOILO CITY — The total crime volume across Western Visayas had decreased by 17.6 percent in the past 11 months, compared to the same period last year, according to the Police Regional Office-6.

PRO-6 spokesperson, Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, said the region remains generally peaceful and stable, despite atrocities committed by the New People's Army in Sibalom, Antique and Maasin, Iloilo in November.

Gorero reported that crime volume in Western Visayas dropped from 80,093 (during the period of January to November last year) to 65,998 this year, or a reduction of 14,095 incidents, which is 17 percent.

Index crimes, or crimes against persons and property, also decreased from 23,290 last year to only 19,525 this year, a drop of 3,765 or 15.95 percent.

Gorero said the monthly crime rate also dropped by 15.33 percent, but the crime solution efficiency (CSE) is slightly up by 0.73 percent. On the other hand, crime clearance efficiency also increased by 0.84 percent. As far as PRO-6 is concerned.

"Western Visayas is still one of the ideal place to live, work, visit and invest in the country," Gorero said.

Given the decrease in the total crime volume, Gorero also pointed out the non-occurrence of high-profile crimes, political killings, and even liquidation of prominent personalities.

For 2017, Gorero said there was also no reported kidnap-for-ransom incident, bank robbery, and terrorist bombing incidents. "The crime environments is favorable to the economy of the region," Gorero added.

The decrease in crime incidents, he said, could also be attributed to the government's aggressive campaign against illegal drugs.

In anti-illegal drugs operations, Gorero reported that PRO-6 also seized 975 firearms, conducted 1,285 operations, which led to the arrest of 1,976 persons and the filing of 2,085 cases in court.

He vowed that, for 2018, PRO-6 will continuously and consistently "Perform and Transform" by accelerating their commitment and performance, as he promised further that the right of suffrage and ballot integrity will be protected.

The synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataang elections are scheduled on May next year.