Five-minute response time cuts Negros Occidental crime 17 percent

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) attributed a 17-percent decline in criminal incidents in 2025 to the implementation of the five-minute response time and the strategic deployment of police personnel across the province.

Police Capt. Judesses Catalogo, Nocppo spokesperson, said criminal incidents dropped by 682 cases, from 4,011 in 2024 to 3,329 in 2025.

Catalogo said police presence was maximized in strategic areas through the five-minute response time, enabling police chiefs to identify crime-prone areas and intensify security deployment.

The decline also aligned with a 17.20 percent reduction in the peace and order indicator, which decreased by 150 cases, from 918 in 2024 to 768 in 2025.

The peace and order indicator includes index crimes, or crimes against persons and property, which fell by 118 cases, from 522 incidents in 2024 to 404 in 2025.

Index crimes cover eight focus offenses: murder, homicide, robbery, physical injury, rape, motorcycle carnapping, carnapping and theft, all of which recorded decreases.

Catalogo said that of the 161 shooting incidents recorded in the province last year, 24 were insurgency-related and claimed by the New People’s Army, with most reported in northern and central Negros.

He acknowledged the difficulty of filing cases against perpetrators, as families of victims are often hesitant to press charges due to security concerns.

However, he said police continue to develop available information to pursue case filings.

Catalogo said the province’s crime clearance efficiency declined to 4.45 percent, meaning suspects had been identified but not arrested.

He attributed the decline in crime clearance efficiency to unresolved cases and the reluctance of families to file complaints out of fear for their safety.

Crime solution efficiency also dropped to 3.93 percent, Catalogo said, because some cases remain under investigation while others lack documentary requirements for court filing.

Crime solution efficiency refers to cases that have been filed in court and where suspects have been arrested.

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.

These figures include non-index crimes involving violations of special laws and local ordinances.

Non-index crimes decreased by 414 incidents, with 2,157 cases recorded in 2025, down from 2,571 in 2024.