PNP logs 31% drop in focus crimes from Dec. 1 to 25
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday reported a 31 percent drop in the number of index crimes during peaceful celebration of “Simbang Gabi” in relation to “Paskuhan 2022” all over the country.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said index crimes went down by 31.13 percent or 926 from 2,975 from December 1 to 25, 2021 compared to 2,049 for the same period in 2022.
He added the index crimes decreased in Luzon by 30.11 percent (513); Visayas by 29.49 percent (189); and Mindanao by 35.56 percent (224).
The eight focus crimes or index crimes include theft, physical injury, rape, robbery, murder, homicide, motorcycle theft and vehicle theft.
Focus or index crimes are considered serious crimes, while non-index crimes are violations of local ordinances and laws and vehicular accidents.
Other non-index crimes are violations against women and children, illegal possession of firearms and drugs, illegal logging, acts of lasciviousness, direct assault and other crimes not listed under index crimes.
“It is with joy to mention that the past 10 days ushering Christmas Day had been generally peaceful throughout the country with no major untoward incident reported by Police Regional Offices. This encompasses the entire period of the 9-day Simbang Gabi or the Novena masses that were similarly peaceful and orderly under the watchful presence of police patrollers,” Azurin said in a news statement.
The PNP’S deployment of 85 percent of its personnel to the different transportation hubs, seaports, airports, business establishments, and other places of convergence resulted in the peaceful means of peoples’ celebration of Christmas.
The country’s top cop also noted the strong collaboration and coordination among concerned government agencies and support of the community, which once again proved its effectiveness in thwarting criminal activities.
“To all PNP personnel, I commend you for the relentless effort in maintaining peace and order during this Yuletide Season. May all these efforts be sustained until the celebration of the coming year, 2023,” said Azurin.
He added from the first hour of December 16 until 6 a.m. of Christmas Day, the PNP Command Center reported zero casualty from firecrackers or stray bullet incidents in all 17 regional jurisdictions.
With continuous police operations, Azurin said that 17 persons were arrested for the illegal sale of firecrackers online.
“To the public, we continue to call on you to avoid using illegal fireworks to make our new year safe,” he said.
Ligtas Paskuhan 2022 operational guidelines include police presence such as the establishment of Police
Assistance Desks, deployment of road safety marshals and focused law enforcement operations to include the continuous conduct of PNP campaign against Illegal Drugs.
Also included are the implementation of Republic Act 7183 (Illegal Manufacture and Sale of Firecrackers and Pyrotechnics), target-hardening measures like utilization of force multipliers, and police-community partnership and information operations.
In line with this, the PNP chief said that they are also working in cooperation with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Health and other partner agencies to help decrease, if not to eliminate, the number of damaged properties and victims of firecracker-related incidents this new-year celebration.
Azurin also said no personnel would be spared if they would engage in indiscriminate firing of firearms, while their immediate superiors would also be held accountable.