PRO-7 grabs highest crime resolution rate

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 recently took the limelight after grabbing a national award for having the best resolution rate of the crimes committed in 2017.

Based on the Philippine National Police's (PNP) electronic blotter system called Crime Incident Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS)' generated statistics last year, the region had recorded 43,022 crimes.

Of that number, the PRO-7 was able to solve 31,616 cases, giving them a crime solution efficiency percentage of 73.49.

Of the 43,022 crimes, 7,858 are index crimes, which include murder, homicide, physical injury, theft and robbery, carnapping and cattle-rustling.

The rest are non-index crimes which normally are violations of special laws or local ordinances.

PRO-7 has over 2,445 actual trained investigators, who are spread across seven provincial and city headquarters. There are 314 investigators assigned in Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), which solved 10,640 crimes out of the 12,882.

PRO-7 Director Robert Quenery has previously said that police investigators are dedicated and working hard to solve cases.

CCPO Director Joel Doria echoed this and added that it was made possible by putting the right person on the job.

“Ang ating kapulisan are more focused on their work. Karamihan nakikita natin, they are committed sa trabaho. And because of putting the right person in the right job, yon na din ang malaking tulong dun,” Doria said.

One of them is CCPO homicide investigator SPO1 Winston Ybañez, who unexpectedly joined the ranks after graduating from computer engineering and while waiting to go abroad.

Ybañez told The FREEMAN that investigation can be considered as an art, as it requires time to determine motive and identify suspect.

“Investigation is art, because it is not governed by rigid rules,” he said.

He added that as an investigator for almost 10 years and team leader of an investigating team, a person must be broad-minded and keen in weeding out information during a crime scene.

He emphasized that although a police manual will guide you, he considered “reality as the best teacher.”

In the first quarter of 2018, police officers were faced with the sudden spate of killings in the city, where 16 homicide cases from February 11 to 21 are still unsolved.

Among the recent deaths include the death of former Ronda vice mayor and lawyer Jonnah John Ungab last February 19 along S. Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City.

Ybañez is the one handling his case.

He said that he found Ungab's case a challenge due to the lack of witnesses.

He added that it is always the lack of lead or the non-cooperation of family members that makes the work take longer.

The family of Ungab, including his wife, Pearl, who was with him during the attack, has urged police officers to continue working on the case.

Pearl had said before that time is irrelevant, so long as the right persons will be held accountable for the death of her husband.

Doria said that as for the unsolved cases, including the Ungab ambush-slay, investigators are exerting their best effort to solve the crimes.

“We are exerting best effort na ma-solve natin, although it will take time talaga. Based on the expertise and tiyaga na ma-solve, and 24 hours nandiyan sila palagi,” Doria said.

He added that they are expecting the return of police investigators who underwent education to upgrade their skills and knowledge.

Doria added that the CCPO will continue to sustain its achievement by continuous course refreshers among their cops.

He also warned cops to adhere to policies, as they will face appropriate charges if they commit any misconduct at work.