Crime volume all over the Western Visayas has dropped 16.22 percent in 2012 compared to the previous year.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 director, said that the region recorded a total crime volume (TCV) of 7,211 from January 1 to November 31, 2012.

On the other hand, the same period last year generated a TCV of 8,607.

A big chunk of the TCV comprised of index crimes (murder, homicide, theft, and the likes), which accounted 5,308 incidents. Index crimes decreased 12.84 percent in 2012 from the previous year.

However, non-index crimes (operations against illegal gambling, illegal drugs, and the likes), tallied at 1,903 cases, also decreased by 24.39%.

But Cruz clarified that the decreased in non-index crimes could be misconstrued that they have waned their campaign against implementation of special laws.

“Tulog-tuloy pa rin po sya at lalo pa po nating pa-iigtingin ngayong taon,” he vowed.

Records also showed a decreased in the average monthly crime rate (AMCR). From 10.53 in 2011, it dropped to 8.54 or 18.90% in 2012.

Along with the drop in the total crime volume, PRO6 also recorded a slight decrease in the crime solution efficiency.

Crimes cleared decreased from 40.78% in the previous year to 38.70% in 2012 or a decrease of 2.07%.

On the other hand, crimes solved dropped from 34.79% last year to 32.45 in 2012 or 2.34% decrease.

Cruz said that the implementation of various anti-criminality measures like the Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operatives (Masco), the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS), Patrulya ng Pulis, and Oplan Katawhayan sa Dalan greatly improved the peace and order situation in Western Visayas.

Masco and PIPS are strategies aimed in deterring crime incidence through enhanced police operations and police visibility.

Patrulya ng Pulis is aimed in increasing police visibility in areas of convergence, like terminals and major streets.

Under the said program, 10 percent of uniformed personnel in regional and provincial headquarters performing administrative functions are deployed to perform patrol duties, especially in crime prone areas.

Subsequently, the personnel from the regional/provincial headquarters are obliged to render four hours of beat patrol duties every day.

Cruz also assessed that the full implementation of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATs) and sustained dialogues with various sectors and stakeholders strengthens community involvement in policing and delivery of other public safety services to the community.

To date, BPAT has more than 38,000 members in 3,642 barangays in Region 6.*