BACOLOD CITY – The province of Negros Occidental recorded a 12.81 percent decrease in crimes with only 3,525 cases from Jan. 1 to Nov. 25.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office said crimes went down by 518 from 4,043 cases during the same period in 2023.
The number of eight focus crimes went down by 37.65 percent or 250 cases from 664 last year to 414 this year.
Murder was down by 12 cases or 8.16 percent from 147 incidents to 135; homicide with 11 or a 22.45 percent decrease from 49 to 38; physical injuries decreased by 17 cases or 35.42 percent from 48 to 31; and robbery down by 13 cases or 25.49 percent from 51 to 38.
Carnapping of motorcycles went down by 64.71 percent or 11 incidents from 17 to only six, followed by theft which was lower by 55.62 percent or 74 from 134 cases to 60 incidents, and rape with a decrease of 51.61 percent or 112 cases from 217 to 105.
Carnapping of motor vehicles recorded one case each last year and this year.
Police noted a 27.36 percent decrease in the number of vehicular accidents from 1,093 in 2023 to 794 in 2024.
Police Col. Rainerio de Chavez, Negros Occidental police director, said the reduction in crimes was attributed to the religious conduct of Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO), Police Integrated Patrol System, intensified police visibility, checkpoint operations, law enforcement operations, and the implementation of local ordinances.
He added that their implementation of the best practices or initiatives such as “Oplan: Dasig," formulation of specific action plans, and “Armas Baylo Bugas” also contributed to the reduction of criminality in the province.
De Chavez said that the implementation of local traffic ordinances, conduct of road safety seminars, strategic conduct of checkpoints, and massive information operation were factors in the reduction of vehicular accidents.