CEBU CITY – The Police Regional Office 7 reported a significant drop in the crime rate in Central Visayas from Jan. 1 to 25.\

The PRO-7 said that 208 index crimes were recorded in the first 25 days of the year, 22.96 percent lower compared to 270 in the same period last year.
The PRO-7 added that 98.35 percent of these cases from Jan. 1 to 25 this year have been cleared and solved.
Index crimes refer to serious crimes that occur with sufficient frequency and regularity to the extent that they can indicate the crime situation, the PRO-7 said.
Considered as index crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, theft, robbery, and carnapping, and special complex crimes.
The PRO-7 also noted a decrease in focus crimes as only 208 cases were recorded during the 25-day period compared to 168 in January last year for a 22.39 percent drop.
The eight focus crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, theft, robbery, carnapping of motorcycle, and carnapping of motor vehicle.
The decrease in these eight crimes was attributed to the significant drop in physical injury and rape cases, the PRO-7 said.
“The downtrend will continue to be seen in the coming days as PRO-7 pushes on with its relentless campaign against all forms of criminality in the region,” said Brig. Gen. Jerry Bearis, director of PRO-7.