PRO-7: Crime volume down in Central Visayas due to more cops on streets
CEBU CITY – Crime volume in Region 7 decreased this year due to more policemen on the streets, the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) said.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare said sending policemen to the streets has been proven effective after a 4.5 percent decrease in crime volume was noted in the region from January to October this year.

POLICE Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, presents data showing the decrease in crime volume in Central Visayas. (Photo via Calvin D. Cordova)
Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, said 3,192 focus crimes were recorded in the past 10 months compared to 3,343 in the same period last year.
Focus crimes are murder, homicide, robbery, theft, rape, physical injury, and carnapping
Pelare said that fewer crimes were recorded this year even if the public was already free to roam following the lifting of the health restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the decrease in crime volume is an indication that the PRO-7’s anti-criminality measures have been effective.
“Police officers are deployed in the streets. We lessen the number of policemen staying in offices. We make sure that our streets are flooded with police officers,” Pelare said.
Pelare said part of the effective anti-criminality measures is the strengthening of coordination between the police and the community.
Suspicious activities that are reported to the police immediately prevent actual crimes from happening, Pelare said.
With the holiday season approaching, Pelare encouraged the public to be vigilant and report to suspicious individuals arriving in their neighborhood to authorities.