W. Visayas posts fewer crimes, firecracker-related injuries

By Jennifer P. Rendon |

Fewer crimes and firecracker injuries were recorded in Western Visayas during the two-week Holiday season.

Records from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 showed that the crime volume decreased by 381 incidents or 28.48 percent.

From Dec. 16, 2022 to Jan. 1, 2023, PRO-6 logged 956 incidents against last year’s 1,337.

Further, the eight focus crimes – murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of vehicles, and carnapping of motorcycles – were also reduced by 120 incidents or 63.49 percent.

From last year’s 189 cases, the number went down to only 69 incidents this year.

Meanwhile, firecracker-related incidents for the period registered a dramatic decrease from 81 cases last year to only 11 this year.

Aklan, Capiz, and Negros Occidental police provincial offices topped the most number of incidents with three each while Guimaras have two.

On the other hand, Antique PPO, Iloilo PPO, Iloilo City PO, and Bacolod City PO have reported zero case each.

Last year, Iloilo PPO recorded 26 of the 81 firecracker-related injuries.

Meanwhile, stray bullet incident remains at 1. Just like last year, Iloilo City PO recorded the lone case.

From three cases last year, only one case of indiscriminate firing was logged this year.

Brigadier General Leo Francisco, Western Visayas police chief, said that the Holiday celebrations in the region were generally peaceful and orderly with no major incident related to the celebration.

He cited the preparations and contributions down by his subordinate commanders – from the provincial and city police directors for stations chiefs – for delivering a peaceful Holiday celebration.