Crime volume in the Western Visayas went down by 18 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period last year, police records show.

Among the six provinces in Region 6, Negros Occidental posted a big drop in crime rate of 39 percent, which Senior Supt Rosendo Franco, provincial police director attributes, to increased police visibility with the deployment of more personnel in the streets, the support of local government units, and the cooperation of the public.

The Police Regional Office 6 recorded 636 crimes within the first 90 days of 2008, or a decrease of 140 incidents compared to those of the same period last year.

Of the total crime volume, 404, or 63.52 percent, are index ones like murder, physical injuries and homicide.

Cases of physical injuries topped index crimes with 142, murder – 73, rape – 66, homicide – 58, theft – 39, and robbery – 26.

The remaining 36.48 percent are non-index crimes, which are mostly violation of special laws, including illegal gambling, drug abuse and loose firearms, illegal logging and fishing, among others.

Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas, regional police chief, reported that index crimes were also reduced by 120 incidents or 22.90 percent while non-index crimes went down by 20 cases or 7.93 percent.

The average monthly crime rate is 3.41 per 100,000 population of the region, while the crime solution efficiency of PRO 6 was recorded at 94.81 percent.

Cuevas also attributed the decrease in the crime rate to improved police visibility, which helps deter occurrence of incidents.*GPB

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