By Anthony Giron
IMUS, Cavite---A total of 482 murder and homicide cases were filed by police or individuals in 2018, the Cavite Provincial Prosecutors Office reported Wednesday.
The combined number of murder and homicide cases was higher by 119 than 2017's 363.
In its partly year-end report, Cavite Provincial Prosecutors Office Administrative Officer Ava G. Geronimo said rape cases in 2018 totaled 185, than the previous year’s 303.
Geronimo presented the sum-up report of major crime cases in the province that were filed in 2018 at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
The Provincial Prosecutor's Office under Gavino B. Mapanoo handle the crime cases from City or District of General Trias and all the province's 16 municipalities namely Alfonso, Amadeo, Carmona, General Aguinaldo (also called Bailen), General Mariano Alvarez, Indang, Kawit, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez-Nuñez, Naic, Noveleta, Rosario, Silang, Tanza and Ternate.
Mapanoo’s jurisdiction does not include the Districts of Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariñas and Tagaytay City, Cavite City and Trece Martires City which have its own prosecutor’s offices.
The media have yet to see the reports on number of filed cases in the three districts and three cities.
In an interview, Geronimo said the cases filed in the office in 2018 totaled 5,476, higher by 576 than the 2017 figure.
The bulk of the cases involved illegal drug pushing and possession with 1,703 higher by 279 than 2017’s figure.
Chief Prosecutor Mapanoo will present the overall 2018 year-end report in mid-January or early February.
The Cavite Police Provincial Office under Sr. Supt. William M. Segun will also render its year-end report.
The Cavite police command and other concerned authorities have started the year with more anti-criminality operations in the province’s lowland and upland districts. That included drives against drugs, loose firearms and illegal gambling.
Cavite, with seven districts comprising seven cities and 16 municipalities, is the reigning country’s most populous province with 4.4 million residents.
Segun and other police officers are expected to brief provincial officials on the crime situation during a session to be called by the provincial board and the meeting of the Peace and Order Council under Gov. Jesus Crispin Remulla.