by Angeline Valencia
Philippine News Agency
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb. 21 - Crime volume in January this year by 11 percent compared to the same period last year with theft and robbery still topping crime incidents.
Police provincial director Sr. Supt. Constantino Barot Jr. reported during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting on Tuesday at Governor’s Mansion that the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) recorded 246 crime incidents last month, an 11-percent drop from 278 incidents recorded in January last year.
Theft still topped the statistics with 105 incidents recorded, or 51 percent of the crime volume; followed by robbery with 52 incidents, or 25 percent of the volume; and physical injuries with 28 incidents, or 14 percent of the volume.
Barot said that Bohol followed the nationwide trend where theft, robbery and physical injuries as the prevailing cases, which can be signs of poverty.
The police recorded seven incidents of car thefts, six murders, six homicides and one rape.
Governor Edgar Chatto, who presided the PPOC meeting, appreciated the efforts of the police force in the province for bringing down the crime rate and even considered Barot’s report as the best birthday gift he received from BPPO.
The governor said the continued reduction of crime volume in Bohol after 2010 was a notable accomplishment of the police force.
He said the provincial government pursued the agenda on poverty alleviation to address crimes against property, although there were other factors such as the criminal tendencies of some individuals.
Less incidents of both index and non-index crimes have been recorded last January compared to the same period last year wherein index crimes reduced from 212 to 205 and non-index crimes reduced from 66 to 41.
Barot attributed the reduction of crime volume to strict implementation of Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS), which covers all the aspects in crime prevention, including checkpoints and foot patrol.
“Although crime still occurs from time to time, we could say that the police is on top of the situation. The deployment of prosperity teams in the barangays is expected to help the police in its effort to maintain the peace and order,†said Barot.
The police provincial director also said the BPPO had already conducted training for barangay peace-keeping teams, where tanods and concerned citizens are members, in all areas in the province except in five towns.
“Since it is a continuing program, we will soon be able to cover the remaining five towns,†Barot said.
During the month of January this year, BPPO conducted 10 operations against illegal drugs which resulted to the arrest of 10 persons and filing of 13 cases in court.
Barot explained that there were instances where after an operation, they found two offenses committed by the arrested person such as illegal possession and illegal sale of prohibited drugs. That’s why the statistics showed 13 cases filed in court while there are only 10 persons arrested during the period.(PNA)
RMA/Angeline Valencia/utb
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