Crime volume in Negros Occidental dropped by 39 percent within the first 90 days of 2008, compared to the same period last year, police records show.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday attributed the reduction to increased police visibility through the deployment of more personnel in streets, support of local government units, and cooperation of the public.

Police records also showed that the total crime volume in the first quarter of 2008 registered 128, compared to 212 in the same period last, with a difference of 84 cases, or a 39.6 percent reduction.

Franco said the average monthly crime rate also registered at 1.88 per 100,000 Negrenses, with a crime solution efficiency of 94.53 percent.

He also noted that the present strategies being implemented in the anti-criminality campaign continue to be effective, with the campaign against wanted persons their strongest point.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office reported having accounted for188 wanted persons, including the arrest of Randal Echaniz, an alleged top ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines, who is facing multiple murder charges in Leyte.

Franco, however, said they forecast a slight increase in crimes against person and property because of rising fuel prices and global recession, among others.

Of the 128 total crime volume in the first quarter of 2008, 72 were index crime, or crimes that are serious in nature, which includes, murder, homicide, rape, robbery and theft, while 56 were non-index crime offenses, which are mostly violation of special laws, including illegal gambling, campaign against drug abuse and loose firearms, illegal logging and fishing, among others.*GPB

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