PNP in east Visayas notes lower crime rate in 2017

PALO, Leyte, Feb. 12  -- Crime incidence in Eastern Visayas went down by 14.93 percent in 2017, the Philippine the National Police (PNP) regional office here reported Monday.

Based on comparative data, the police recorded a crime volume of 10,023, lower than the 11,782 crimes recorded in 2016.

Of the 10,023 documented crimes, 7,001 were categorized as index crimes, which is 11.83 percent lower compared to 7,940 recorded in the previous year.

Registered non-index crimes in 2017 is at 3,022, a 21.34 percent reduction from the 3,842 incidents in 2016.

PNP defines index crime as crimes against persons such as murder, homicide, rape, and physical injury and crimes against property such as theft, robbery, and car theft. Non-index crimes are violations of special laws such as illegal logging or local ordinances.

The crime against persons was the most common with 1,845 incidence, but still lower than the previous record of 1,993. Crimes against property also decreased to 1,177 last year from 1,849 in 2016.

The most common crimes against persons are physical injuries, murder, homicide, and rape. On the crimes against property, usual complaints are theft, robbery, motor and car theft, and cattle rustling.

“The significant decrease of crime volume is attributed to the effective and efficient implementation of enhance managing police operations,” said PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Chief Supt. Gilbert Cruz in a statement.

PNP Region 8 also posted a 56.14 percent crime solution efficiency for 2017, which is 2.02 percent higher than the 54.12 percent recorded a year earlier. (RTA/PNA)