CAMP MARCELO A. ADDURU, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – Police said the crime rate in the Cagayan Valley region dropped in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Police Brig. Gen. Antonio P. Marallag Jr., Police Regional Office-2 chief, said 1,790 crimes were recorded from January to March 2025, a decrease of 147 cases or 7.59 percent from the 1,937 reported in the first quarter of 2024.
"Our crime prevention strategies, including increased patrol visibility, intensified police operations, and active community engagement, have significantly contributed to this significant development. However, we recognize the challenges we still face, particularly in securing witness testimonies. Rest assured, we will continue to work closely with the community, the justice system, and other stakeholders to ensure safety and security in the region,” he said.
Marallag added that the Peace and Order Indicator (POI), which includes index and non-index crimes, also went down by 6.85 percent, with 1,060 incidents from January to March from 1,138 in the same period last year.
Index crimes refer to serious offenses such as murder, homicide, robbery, theft, and physical injury, which directly affect public safety. Non-index crimes involve violations of special laws, such as drug-related offenses and illegal possession of firearms.
The Public Safety Indicator (PSI), which cover vehicular incidents and other public safety concerns, registered an 8.64 percent decrease from 799 in 2024 to 730 this year.
The PRO-2 had an 84.41 percent crime solution and clearance efficiency as it solved 1,511 out of the 1,790 crimes recorded, slightly lower than last year’s 88.02 percent.
The Crime Clearance Efficiency (CCE) stood at 98.88 percent compared to 100 percent in the same period in 2024. The slight decrease was attributed to the reluctance of witnesses to testify due to safety concerns.
Marallag said they continue to conduct thorough investigations in close coordination with the prosecutor's office to ensure justice for victims.
He emphasized the continued commitment of the police to ensure public safety and encouraged the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to sustain the gains in crime reduction.