Number of crimes in city drops

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City has the highest crime volume in Region 7, but statistics showed the city police have reduced the number of cases by 3,000 last year, based on records released by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7. 

In 2010, the city recorded a crime volume of 10,844 cases – which included 8,565 index crimes or crimes against persons and properties – but this number dropped to 7,774 cases in 2011. The number of index crimes dropped to 5,801 cases.

Robbery, theft, murder, homicide and rape are examples of index crimes.

City Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said Cebu City recorded the highest number of cases reduced compared to other police offices. This despite the fact that the city lacks policemen.

If government were to be strict with the police-to-population ratio, Buenafe said a highly urbanized area like Cebu City with a population of 800,000 should have at least 1,500 policemen. At present, the city only has a little more than 900 policemen.

Buenafe said the deployment of more uniformed police personnel to patrol crime-prone areas, including the presence of motorcycle-riding policemen who patrol the city 24 hours, has contributed to the decrease in the crime volume.

Buenafe assumed as city police chief in the later part of 2010 after Mayor Michael Rama was elected mayor in May 2010.

Eugene Elizalde, presiding officer of the Cebu City Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC), earlier asked Buenafe to “push” his men to improve CCPO’s performance against criminality.

Buenafe assured Elizalde of extra efforts from CCPO but said his men have been doing a good job even without any acknowledgement. For instance, CCPO has confiscated 62 assorted firearms since January 2012 alone, proving that the police have not been remiss in the fight against loose firearms.

Rama has recommended a P24 million budget for confidential and intelligence expenses this year, but the amount was reduced by the City Council to only P500,000. (FREEMAN)