Police credit crime drop in Negros Island to 5-minute response
IBAY (left). (Glazyl Masculino)
BACOLOD CITY – The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region reported that crime in the region dropped by 7.96 percent from June 2 to July 31 following the implementation of the Philippine National Police five-minute response time policy.
PRO-NIR Director Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay said on Monday that crime went down by 146, from 1,834 in the same period in 2024 to 1,688 in 2025.
He said that index crimes or crimes against person or property declined by 13 from 179 to 166, and non-index crimes dropped by 162 cases from 1,087 to 925.
Ibay said the number of eight focus crimes dropped by 12 from 178 to 166.
Average monthly crime rate fell from 18.51 to 17.04. Meanwhile, the crime clearance rate improved to 95.14 percent, with a solution efficiency of 85.3 percent.
Ibay said that quick and visible police presence have been effective in deterring crime and responding to incidents promptly.
The increase in public safety incidents—from 571 to 579—was largely due to more vehicular accidents being reported via 911, which he attributed to better public access and reporting, not necessarily more dangerous roads. “These numbers reflect better accessibility, faster service, and more accurate incident capture, not just an increase in collisions,” Ibay said.
Over the past two months since the PRO-NIR adopted the five-minute response, Ibay said they have seen measurable and positive changes in the crime environment.
He noted that their work is far from done, as they vowed to continue to refine their patrol staging, improve road safety measures, and strengthen their partnership with communities.
Ongoing simulation exercises are being conducted across the region, including Negros Occidental, including this highly-urbanized city, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, to maintain police readiness under the system.
Key efforts under the system include pre-positioned patrol units for faster deployment, improved 911 dispatch protocols and nearest-unit response, layered enforcement to ensure quick follow-through on leads, plans to align patrol deployment with heat maps and crime data, enhancing closed circuit television (CCTV) and local government unit (LGU) interoperability, and issuing public advisories to improve emergency reporting.
“The five-minute response time is more than a target, it is a commitment to protect lives and maintain peace,” Ibay said.