Observance of Holy Week generally peaceful in Caraga region – PRO13
BUTUAN CITY – The regional command of Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) said on Tuesday, April 11, that Holy Week observance was generally peaceful in the entire Northeastern Mindanao or The Caraga Region with no untoward incidents from April 2 to April 9.
Caraga region comprises the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur and Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI) and the cities of Surigao, Tandag, Bislig, Bayugan, Cabadbaran and this region’s frontier and capital city of Butuan.
PRO 13 Regional Director Pablo G. Labra ll said that the peaceful and orderly celebration was attributed to the intense police visibility alongside the support of the PNP force multipliers and other partner agencies who rendered round-the-clock services to the pilgrims and other vacation goers.
In addition to the deployment of 1,274 cops, PRO 13 also launched the ‘Bisikleta Iglesia’ wherein police officers conducted simultaneous visits and ocular inspections of churches, terminals, and other major thoroughfares region-wide.
Brig. Gen. Labra personally inspected the areas of public convergence as well as the PNP personnel manning the police assistance desks and providing security measures for the public.
Based on comparative data from last year’s Holy Week celebration and this year’s Holy Week, there was a significant decrease in traffic accidents from 31 to 29 and a decrease of eight focus crimes from 23 to 13 citing records from the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division.
The eight focus crimes were murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of vehicles, and carnapping of motorcycles.
“This victory is the victory of PNP Caraga, local government units, government agencies, communities, force multipliers, and all stakeholders that unleashed their extraordinary efforts for peace and order in Caraga,” the region’s top cop said.
“Your police force remains full alert to ensure the safety and security of our travelers and motorists returning to their homes from the long holiday,” Brig. Gen. Labra concluded.