BACOLOD CITY – The province of Negros Occidental reported fewer crimes last year compared to 2022.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) said 4,352 crimes were recorded in 2023, down 129 from 4,481 in 2022.

NOCCPO (Glazyl Masculino)
Index crimes or crimes against person or property went down by 95 from 1,028 in 2022 to 933 last year.
Under index crimes are the eight focus crimes, topped by murder with 276 cases, followed by homicide with 197; physical injuries, 194; theft, 142; rape, 74; robbery, 54; carnapping, 16, and motornapping, 1.
Nocppo said non-index crimes, including special law violations, went up by 77 from 2,122 in 2022 to 2,199 in 2023.
Police Major Rhojn Darell Nigos, spokesperson of the Negros Occidental police, said that continuous operations against illegal drugs, loose firearms, and other criminalities contributed to fewer crimes in the province.
Another factor was their effective anti-criminality campaign and police visibility in various areas, he added.
Nigos said the cooperation of the public also deterred crimes.