Crime incidents in Iloilo City down by 37% during ECQ

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Fewer crimes were recorded in Iloilo City after it was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

From March 17 to April 4, 2020, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) recorded a 37.5 percent drop in crime volume.

Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, said they only documented 12 cases of eight focus crimes – murder, homicide, robbery theft, physical injury, rape, motornapping and carnapping.

Only one case of murder was reported from March 17 to April 4 compared to three cases from Feb 27 to March 16, 2020.

From 13 cases, physical injuries dropped to 11 incidents while theft cases decreased by three cases in the same period.

Robbery incidents recorded a big decrease with only one case compared to last year’s six incidents.

Sangrines said the significant decrease in crime incidents can be attributed to the strict implementation of Executive Order 055 or the Enhanced Community Quarantine (Lockdown).

During ECQ, people are obliged to stay in their houses to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Sangrines said ICPO personnel are relentlessly conducting checkpoint operation and strict implementation of curfew hours to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Iloilo City.

More than 800 persons were already caught loitering during curfew hours.