BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The restricted movement of people and heightened law enforcement operations during the quarantine period resulted in a decline of crime volume in Western Visayas by 44.96 percent, regional police spokesman, Lt. Col. Joem Malong, said yesterday.
Malong reported that the eight focus crimes from March to August this year were 1,142, compared to 2,075 in the same period last year, registering a difference of 933 cases.
During this period, Western Visayas was under Enhanced Community Quarantine, General Community Quarantine and Modified General Community Quarantine, with PNP personnel deployed at quarantine control points, Malong said, which she cited as the reason for the significant decrease of crimes in the region.
The PNP in Western Visayas is presently marking the 26th National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW), with a theme “Komunidad Pangalagaan nang Pandemya at Krimen ay Maiwasan”, which Malong said, highlights the value of unity to fight against the pandemic and prevent crime.
She hopes that the observance of the NCPW will generate more awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of crime prevention.
Malong also emphasized that crime prevention is a shared responsibility between the PNP, and the general public.*
