ECONOMIC IN NATURE?: Iloilo police notes increase in robbery, theft cases

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Apart from spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), increased mobility and economic activities also have consequences on peace and order.

This as crimes against property increased in Iloilo as the province gradually eased protocols against COVID-19 for most of the year.

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) reported that it noted a spike in robbery and theft incidents from January to November 2021.

Senior Master Sergeant Francisco Lindero Jr., IPPO spokesperson, said that 152 incidents were recorded in these months – 65 robbery and 87 theft cases.

Lindero also said that most of these incidents happened during nighttime.

The figure is 36.94 percent higher against last year’s 111 incidents – 49 robbery and 62 theft cases.

For the years 2020 and 2021, IPPO records showed that Dumangas, Oton, and Sta. Barbara towns registered the most number of crimes against property with 14 cases each.

Cabatuan has 13 cases while Passi City recorded 12 incidents.

Barotac Viejo, Concepcion, Pavia, and Oton have 11 cases each and Janiuay and Ajuy with 10 incidents each.

Other towns have recorded single-digit incidents.

But Lindero said that if cases for 2019 and 2021 are to be compared, the latter is still lower compared to the pre-pandemic year.

“We believe that the increase is due to the relaxed movement of the people. For a good part of 2020, we were on lockdown. There’s a limited movement of persons and most businesses have to temporarily close,” he said.

But by 2021, economic activities slowly returned along with the movement of the public.