BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Crime incidents in highly-urbanized Bacolod City rose by 22 percent last year compared to 2020, police records show.
The Bacolod City Police Office recorded a total of 1,384 incidents last year in Bacolod City, compared to 1,134 in 2020, registering of an increase of 250 incidents.
Of the 1,384 incidents last year, police records further showed 1,140 affecting the peace and order index, previously known as index and non-crimes, composed of murder, homicide, robbery, rape, physical injuries, theft, carnapping and implementation of special laws.
On the other hand, public safety crimes, classified as vehicular accidents or those resulting in homicide, physical injuries and damage to property, were recorded at 344 in the same period.
The BCPO initially attributed the increase of crimes in Bacolod City in 2021 to the influx of people outside of their houses, after spending quarantine most of the time in their respective homes due to COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
This also resulted to the increase of the Average Monthly Crime Rate by 22 percent, which was 15.44 percent per 100,000 population in 2020, to 18.85 percent last year.
Upon assumption of BCPO command before 2021 ended, PCol. Joseph Thomas Martir ordered the immediate implementation of EMPO (Enhanced Managing Police Operations), such as target-specific interventions in reduction of crime incidents, especially the eight Focus Crimes.
Martir continuously reminded BCPO personnel to step up the fight against all forms of crime amid the COVID-19 pandemic.*
