The Central Visayas regional police has recorded almost 50 percent reduction in crime from Feb. 19 to 25, attributing it to the implementation of new anti-crime strategies that were cascaded down to the chiefs of police.
Police Brig. Gen. Jerry Bearis, director of the Police Regional Office 7, said the same week also resulted in the confiscation of P23.6 million worth of illegal drugs in a series of operations in the region.
He said the crime drop of 49.04 percent was compared to the same period last year, revealing that the regional police recorded only 345 cases from Feb. 19 to 25 compared to 677 in the same period last year.
The decline was recorded in the PNP’s Focus Crimes, which include Murder, Homicide, Physical Injury, Rape, Robbery, Theft, and Carnapping, recorded 49 cases compared to 65 last year.
“These operational gains in the area of peace and security are seen as the result of PRO 7’s anti-crime innovations which are based on analysis on the actual situation on the ground. . Information flow was also enhanced as soon as the Anti-Illegal Drug Advocates (AIDA) was put to maximum utilization” said Bearis.
“The newly introduced Urban Patrolling and the full utilization of drone patrols on a consistent basis and in identified crime prone areas also deter the occurrence of crimes,” he added.
He said intelligence-based operations seized 3,480.98 grams of shabu worth P23,670,664.0 Standard Drug Price and arrested 183 drug personalities, while 278 illegal gamblers were arrested where operating units confiscated a total of P37,958.00 bet money from the suspects.
Bearis said they also recovered a total of 92 unlicensed firearms, three explosives, and 52 ammunition and successfully arrested 19 persons.
He added that 237 pending warrants of arrest were served to 37 most wanted persons and 200 other wanted persons in Central Visayas.
“All arrested suspects are in their custodial facilities while necessary documents are prepared for appropriate charges,” he said.
Bearis also disclosed that PRO 7’s Police Efficiency is continuously high, posting 96.55 percent and 92.07 percent Crime Clearance Efficiency, and Crime Solution Efficiency since the establishment of Center for Public Safety Analysis