Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas discusses the peace and order situation in Central Visayas during the Regional Peace and Order Council meeting at the Capitol Social Hall yesterdat. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) reported an increase in total crime volume in the region to 63,159 in the first eight months of this year.
Murder, theft and other index crimes, however, went down by 9.3 percent to 15,077 this year from 16,621 last year.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 directorial staff chief, said this indicated that the intensified patrols and security operations conducted by the police have deterred crimes.
Non-index crimes, on the other hand, increased to 27,735 this year from 23,572 last year. Non-index crimes are those covered by special laws such as illegal fishing.
Lawas gave a presentation of the region’s peace and order situation during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) regular meeting at the Capitol Social Hall yesterday.
He said the police was more efficient in solving crimes this year, with 55.58 percent of the total cases considered solved as of August compared to 43.58 percent in 2014.
“The continuous conduct of investigation trainings for PNP personnel of PRO 7 had greatly improved the capability and competency in the conduct of investigation,” Lawas said.
Of the total crime volume, 2,289 cases involved illegal drugs based on the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG) 7 records.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office has, by far, confiscated a total of P4.76 million worth of marijuana and close to P50 million worth of shabu.
CPPO recorded a total of 1,029 cases filed in court as of Aug. 31 this year.
Except for Cebu City, all police offices in the region registered an increase in total crime volumes so far this year.
The CPPO reported a 6.6 percent increase in crime volume to 12,826 in 2015 compared to 12,035 last year.
The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) said crimes went up by 19.5 percent to 5,810 this year from 4,862 in 2014.
The police offices of Cebu Province, Cebu City, and Lapu-Lapu City reported a decrease in index crime volumes.
Lawas also cited an increase in total crime clearance efficiency, with charges filed for 63.04 percent of the total number of crimes as of August this year. Crime clearance efficiency last year was only 51.89 percent.
“As a whole, the maintenance of peace and order does not solely lie upon the shoulders of the law enforcers, but rather is a concern of the whole citizenry,” said Lawas.
Yesterday’s meeting was presided over by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, RPOC chairperson.
Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto and representatives of national agencies, among others, attended the meeting.