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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Crime in Negros Occidental drops due to five-minute response time

Crime in Negros Occidental drops due to five-minute response time

Published Jan 15, 2026 05:52 pm
WENCESLAO
WENCESLAO
BACOLOD CITY - The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office credited the 17 percent decline in criminal incidents in 2025 to the strict implementation of the five-minute response time and the strategic deployment of police personnel across the province.
Police Capt. Judesses Catalogo, Negros Occidental police spokesperson, said that crime incidents dropped by 682 cases, from 4,011 in 2024 to 3,329 in 2025.
He explained that the five-minute response time helped maximize police visibility in strategic areas and enabled police chiefs to identify crime-prone locations for intensified security deployment.
This improvement was reflected in the peace and order indicator, which declined by 17.20 percent, or 150 cases, from 918 in 2024 to 768 in 2025.
Index crimes — offenses against persons and property — also decreased by 118 cases, from 522 incidents in 2024 to 404 in 2025.
Catalogo said the eight focus crimes — murder, homicide, robbery, physical injury, rape, motorcycle carnapping, carnapping, and theft — all recorded reductions during the year.
However, challenges remain. Of the 161 shooting incidents recorded in 2025, 24 were insurgency-related and claimed by the New People’s Army (NPA), mostly in northern and central Negros.
Catalogo noted difficulties in filing cases as families of victims are often reluctant to pursue charges due to security concerns. Despite this, police continue to develop available information to support case filing, he added.
The province’s crime clearance efficiency (CCE) dropped to 4.45 percent, indicating that while suspects have been identified, arrests have not been made. Catalogo attributed this decline to unsolved cases and the fear of families to formally file complaints.
Crime solution efficiency (CSE) also fell to 3.93 percent, as several cases remain under investigation or require additional documentation before being filed in court.
Meanwhile, the public safety indicator — which includes vehicular accidents and violations of special laws — declined by 16.34 percent, or 150 cases, from 918 in 2024 to 768 in 2025.
Non-index crimes also dropped significantly, with 2,157 cases in 2025 compared to 2,571 in 2024, a reduction of 414 incidents.

Related Tags

Negros Occidental NOCCPO Crime Five-minute police response
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