Crime volume in C. Visayas declines in 1st semester, PNP-7 reports
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 28 (PIA) -- Crime volume in Central Visayas declined by 26.38 percent for the past six months this year compared to the same period in 2010, the Police Regional Office (PRO) -7 reported in its monthly ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum.
S/Supt. Erson Digal, officer-in-charge of the Regional Investigation Detective Management Division of the PRO-7 presented the comparative crime statistics in the region for the first semester 2011 versus 2010.
In the presentation which highlighted the major accomplishments of the PRO-7 from January to June, there were 13, 270 crime incidents recorded for the past six months this year as against the 18,024 recorded crime incidents of the same period last year.
“From the statistical data alone, one can see that there is a decrease of crime volume for the first semester this year. Crime volume in the region went down by 26 percent,” according to Digal.
Digal likewise showed that index crimes also went down from 5,097 incidents last year to only 3,864 recorded incidents this year or a decrease of 27 percent. Index crimes are crimes against persons or properties like theft, robbery, homicide, physical injuries and rape.
Non-index crimes also declined by 24 percent where last year, the number of recorded incidents was placed at 12, 927 while this year, only 9,406 non-index crimes were recorded, Digal said.
Non-index crimes are violations against special laws that include illegal fishing and illegal drugs.
Theft is the most committed crime that recorded 4,234 incidents the past six months. The figure however, already went down as last year, there were 6,584 incidents.
Most incidents of theft is recorded in Cebu City although the average monthly crime rate in the city went down, Digal disclosed.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director S/Supt. Patrocinio Commendador likewise reported that crime volume in the province went down by 16 percent while non-index crimes decreased by 12 percent. No figures however, were given. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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Over P14M worth of illegal drugs seized by PNP-7 in past 6 mos.
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 28 (PIA) -- Over 14M net worth of illegal drugs have been confiscated by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Visayas for the first six months this year as the war against illegal drugs continues.
In a presentation of its 1st semester accomplishments, the PNP-7 reported that from January to June, 2011, 571 anti-illegal drugs operations were made. Out of the total operations, 787 persons were arrested and 694 cases are now filed in court.
P/Supt. Petronelli Baldebrin, officer-in-charge of the Regional Operations and Plans Division of the Police Regional Office (PRO) -7 said marijuana was the top illegal drug that was seized in the past six months.
“From January to June, this year, the total Dangerous Drugs Board or DDB value of the illegal drugs seized in the region amounted to P14,274,442,” according to Baldebrin.
Marijuana in its various forms such as sticks, seedlings and plants remains the top illegal drug confiscated followed by shabu and cocaine, Baldebrin said.
In Cebu Province, 199 persons were arrested for the past six months due to illegal drug trafficking.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director S/Supt. Patrocinio Commendador said the total worth of illegal drugs confiscated for the past six months amounted to P4M as compared to the P1M worth of total drugs seized in the same period last year.
The drug situation in Central Visayas particularly in Cebu however, has improved because of the strengthened operations against the entry of illegal drugs here, Jorge Cansancio of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) -7 said.
Cansancio said Cebu is an entry point of illegal drugs and that there is a large market here.
“Illegal drugs from Samar and other neighboring provinces want to penetrate Cebu because there is a market. But we are blocking all entry points such as RORO ports to ensure that illegal drugs do not find its way to Cebu,” according to Cansancio.
Based on PDEA-7 records, for the first semester this year, they have conducted 80 operations and that cases have already been filed in courts against arrested persons.
Cansancio said the number of operations against illegal drugs for the first semester this year is lesser compared to the same period in 2010 because the volume of illegal drugs here has gone down. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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Police in C. Visayas to undergo training on handling
cyber sex crimes amid alarming reports in Cebu
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 28 (PIA) -- Policemen in Central Visayas will soon undergo basic training particularly in the area of fundamental investigation in handling cyber sex crimes amid the controversy surrounding the reported proliferation of cyber sex operations in Cebu.
Police Regional Office (PRO) -7 Regional Director C/Supt. Ager Ontog said in yesterday’s ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum bared that he has requested the assistance of the Australian Federal Police on basic training in dealing with cyber sex crimes.
“Just yesterday, I met with our Australian counterpart and we have requested their assistance for basic training especially in the field of investigation,” Ontog disclosed to the police beat reporters that attended the forum.
Earlier, Ontog admitted in media interviews that the local police lack training and capability to handle cyber sex crimes.
Even with the admission, Ontog however stressed that “the Philippine National Police is a capable agency and that we are continuously upgrading our capability to address new crimes that emerge like cyber sex operations.”
Ontog said that before, it used to be prostitution but with the advent of new technology, “we see the emergence of cyber sex operations as an indication that there is an upsurge in the use of information technology to exploit our women and children.”
The PRO-7 chief revealed that there are only 30 policemen out of the more than 7,000 police personnel in the region that are trained in handling basic investigation on cyber sex crimes.
“We are still in the process of upgrading our capability but rest be assured that we are doing something about it,” Ontog declared.
Ontog however, said he wants the police to solely focus on the basic investigation aspect such as detecting crimes, preserving evidence and transmitting the preserved evidence to equipped PNP units such as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
“It is already the CIDG that is mandated to delve deeper into the investigation process,” Ontog said.