Crime index down

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The Philippine National Police in Central Visayas reported that the total crime volume in the region had dropped by 30 percent in 2011 compared to 23 percent in 2010 registering a downtrend in the past two years.

The Department of Interior and Local Government reported that the national crime volume in the first quarter this year also dropped by an average of 16.77 percent compared to the same period last year.

The continuing decrease in the national crime volume was attributed to the intensified anti-criminality campaigns such as enhancement of intelligence and investigative skills, police integrated patrol system, localized anti-criminality action plan for local government units including the barangays and by increasing warm bodies of police officers.

In Negros Oriental, the crime volumes also decreased due to the massive campaign by the authorities against all forms of criminality in the province.

Incarcerated in the province were 242 drug personalities for violating provisions of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2001, 452 persons arrested for illegal gambling, 379 wanted persons for various offenses captured, and six-gun-for-hire men neutralized.

The provincial command in Negros Oriental should be congratulated for its intensified campaign against illegal gambling, drugs, index crimes, and also illegal logging, as a way of preserving the remaining forest areas of the province.

This confirms that police visibility and active partnership between the LGUs and other stakeholders help greatly in maintaining peace and order, giving us hope that Negros Oriental will become a better place to live, work, invest and do business in.*