'Aurora is Central Luzon's most peaceful province'

BALER, Aurora, Philippines  – This province has retained its status as the province with the lowest crime incidence in Central Luzon despite the surge in thefts and robberies in the provincial capital.

Crime statistics from the Philippine National Police regional office 3 based in Camp Olivas, Pampanga showed that Aurora registered 991 crimes from January to July, which represents only four percent of the 24,401 crime incidents recorded in the region over the period.

Bulacan has the highest crime incidence with 9,647 followed by Pampanga with 3,305, Nueva Ecija (2,498), Bataan (2,185), Zambales (1,566) and Tarlac (1,131).

Senior Superintendent Oscar Albayalde, regional intelligence chief, said the 24,401 crimes in this province are lower by 25.77 percent compared to the 32,870 crimes listed over the same period last year.

Of the said crimes, 13,674 or 56.04 percent are index crimes such as theft, physical injuries, robbery, carjacking, rape, murder and homicide while the remaining 10,727 (43.96 percent) are non-index crimes.

Albayalde said 3,395 or 13.91 percent of these crimes are considered “solved” where the suspects have been arrested and charged in court while 5,207 or 21.37 percent are considered “cleared” where cases have been filed but the suspects are at large.

He said the dip in regional crime incidence could be attributed to intensified police visibility in the streets and the conduct of massive simultaneous checkpoint operations targeting motorcycle-riding criminals.

Albayade said the regional PNP, led by Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao also launched “I-Text Mo, Aksyonan Ko (Text and I will Act)” giving citizens a chance to report crime incidents in their locality through text messaging and the “Wanted Ka, Huli Ka! (You’re Wanted, You’re Caught)” website providing information on most wanted criminals in the region.