LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The police have recorded an 82.39 percent drop in Benguet’s crime rate from March 16 to Aug. 17 compared to the same period last year.
Benguet Provincial Police Director, Col. Elmer Ragay, said the number of crimes declined to 175 cases over the five months, compared to the 994 cases logged in the same period in 2019.
There were 21 index crimes from mid-March to mid-August, 90.58 percent less than the 223 recorded in the same months last year, while 154 non-index crimes were recorded, marking an 80.03 percent decrease from 771 in the same period last year.
“We are able to focus at least 70 percent of our manpower, mobility, financial, and other resources to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic,” Ragay said, adding that police personnel in the province juggle their anti-criminality duties with fighting Covid-19.
Benguet’s crime clearance efficiency also rose to 98.29 percent this year from 79.68 percent last year, while its crime solution efficiency stands at 86.29 percent, higher than last year’s 73.94 percent.
He said alcohol-related incidents remained at the top of the crime incidents, resulting in physical injuries and vehicular traffic accidents.
“It has been very ideal. Never in our wildest imagination that we would see crime statistics as low as what we have right now,” Ragay said, attributing to people staying in their homes and the presence of police personnel on the streets.
“Your policemen are 24/7 outside, on the streets, which serves as a deterrent (to) criminals,” he said, adding that criminals still attempted to execute their acts despite the community quarantine.
Ragay also reported that 55 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted over the period, resulting in the arrest of 57 persons and confiscation of illegal drugs, such as marijuana and shabu, valued at P17.4 million.
A total of 87 wanted persons were also nabbed during the five-month period.
He said they continue to implement the campaign against loose firearms, forest protection, and anti-illegal gambling. – PNA release
April 23, 2024
