Crime reduction attributed to community’s support

THE City's Chief Executive expressed gratitude to residents for helping the Baguio City Police Office in solving crimes.

In the year end edition of the weekly Ugnayang Panlunsod, the mayor attributed the 48 percent decrease in crime volume to the active support of the community in informing the various BCPO hotlines and its social media platform on supposed crimes.

"The active participation and support of the community to their policemen is a manifestation of their willingness to help in bringing down the crimes in our city," said Domogan.

BCPO Chief Sr. Supt. Ramil Saculles, in a report submitted to the city government stated the total crime volume during the period this year to at 3,220, which is lower by 2,857 from last year’s 6,077 crime incidents.

The report showed the total crime volume, index crimes decreased by 70 percent or 676 incidents this year compared to last year’s 1,597.

"The collaborative efforts of the BCPO and support of different stakeholders in the implementation of anti criminality plans and strategies also resulted in the significant decrease of index crimes,” Domogan stressed

Non-index crimes also decreased by 33 percent, equivalent to 1,260 crime incidents, compared to the 3,804 cases from January to November 2016.

Theft cases remained the most prevalent incidents in the city recorded from January to November 2017 which decreased by 1,021 or 76 percent compared to the same period in 2016.

Saculles further reported there were 63 robbery cases recorded during the period this year, a 76-percent decrease from the 326

cases during the same period in 2016.

On crimes against persons, physical injuries recorded the bulk of the cases with 235 this year compared to 476 last year, marking a 50 percent decrease.

"The recommendation of Saculles for all entertainment establishments to be closed by 12 midnight has basis based on the number of physical injuries recorded. We must take note these physical injury cases were mostly due to persons under the influence of liquor," said the Mayor.

For homicide cases, the 22 cases last year slid to 13 this year. There were only two incidents of murder this year, a 90-percent drop from 22 last year.

The BCPO also recorded a 23 percent increase in its crime solution efficiency or 39 percent in 2016 against 62 percent this year.

Meanwhile, Saculles attributed the improved peace and order situation of the city to the active support of the stakeholders and force multipliers “who exerted a deliberate and pragmatic crime prevention and control for the improvement of peace and order situation of the city."

This aside from the intensified implementation of Oplan Cross Rider and Oplan Rizal, as well as the use of the Geographic Information System-Based Crime Analysis.

Oplan Cross Rider is the conduct of massive checkpoint operations to seal all ingress and egress to and from Baguio City.

The GIS-BCA is a deployment system of police personnel wearing reflectorized vest along the identified hotspots or focus areas during the peak hours as a deterrent to crime, while the revitalized implementation of Oplan Rizal rescues the youth from vicerelated incidents or being in conflict with the law.

Saculles explained the BCPO's execution of Project Tower or the two-pronged strategy for anti-pickpocket and police presence on the overpasses while monitoring the movements of pedestrians and motorists in crowded streets and gridlocks at the Central Business District.

"The Motorcycle Response Teams have helped a lot in the reduced crime volume and with the aid of the city government which continues to provide moral, spiritual and even financial support," Saculles added.