Bacolod crime volume up 19% in first half of 2025

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has reported an 18.66% rise in crime volume from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2025.

According to BCPO data, 731 incidents were recorded in the first half of 2025, compared to 616 during the same period last year, marking an increase of 115 cases.

Index crimes, which include offenses against persons and property, increased slightly by 1.07%, from 93 in 2024 to 94 this year.

Despite this, the eight focus crimes declined by 2.15%, from 93 last year to 91 in 2025.

Among the focus crimes, theft topped the list with 23 cases, followed by rape with 19, murder with 14, robbery with 13, homicide with 10, physical injury with 7, motorcycle carnapping with 4, and motor vehicle carnapping with 1.

Homicide cases more than doubled in 2025, rising from four incidents in 2024 to 10.

Police Lt. Col. Joery Puerto, head of the BCPO Operations Management Unit, said most homicide incidents stemmed from personal grudges, although some were linked to alcohol-related altercations.

Physical injury cases also rose, from five last year to seven, while robbery cases increased from seven to 13. One motor vehicle carnapping was reported this year, compared to none in 2024.

However, rape cases dropped from 31 in 2024 to 19 this year, while theft fell from 26 to 23. Murder and motorcycle carnapping each declined by one, from 15 and five incidents, respectively.

The city’s average monthly crime rate rose by 18.66%, from 15.92 to 18.89. The peace and order indicator also increased by 183 cases or 45.86%, from 399 to 582.

Crime clearance efficiency—referring to cases filed but suspects not yet arrested—slightly declined by 0.11%, from 99.84% to 99.73%.

Crime solution efficiency—referring to cases where suspects have been arrested and charged—increased by 0.85%, from 90.75% to 91.52%.

Puerto attributed the increase in crime volume partly to intensified operations against illegal activities such as gambling, possession of loose firearms, and drug offenses.

He noted that non-index crimes, including special law violations, surged by 59.48%, from 306 in 2024 to 488 in 2025—an increase of 182 incidents.

He added that the BCPO is intensifying efforts to curb loose firearms, particularly in areas where shooting incidents have occurred, through the implementation of search warrants.

Puerto also emphasized their consistent campaign against illegal drugs, with PHP95 million worth of illegal drugs seized and 373 suspects arrested in the last six months.

Despite the increase in crime statistics, Puerto assured the public that the figures are not alarming and should not cause panic.

He said police operations and community presence are being further strengthened to ensure public safety.