Common crimes down during Sinulog

CEBU, Philippines — The Police Regional Office-7 reported that crime statistics concerning the eight focus crimes (murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, motor vehicle theft, and motorcycle theft) during the Sinulog period over the previous two years showed a remarkable overall decrease of 52.89% or 64 incidents.

It said that there were 121 incidents reported from January 11 to 21, 2024, compared to this year’s Sinulog from January 9 to 19, 2025, which recorded only 57 incidents;

However, there were minor violations, such as disregarding ordinances regarding drinking and smoking in public, walking around without shirts, public urination, littering, as well as violations of curfews and traffic laws.

PRO-7 in a statement says that a significant reduction in the eight focus crimes can be attributed to proactive measures taken to reduce criminal activities, ongoing preventive actions, and an increased police presence.

For this year's Sinulog Grand Parade, PRO-7 deployed around 8,404 security personnel, including the PNP, AFP, BFP, NAVFORCEN, force multipliers, support from various organizations, mobility resources, and other security components.

Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan, who heads Task Force Fiesta Señor, said that the Sinulog Festival 2025 concluded successfully, characterized by robust security protocols and careful preparations.

This year marked the 460th Fiesta Señor and the event took place without any security incidents reported across Central Visayas.

“The Sinulog Grand Mardi Gras and its related events proceeded smoothly, benefiting from our thorough safety protocols and our commitment to providing a secure environment for participants, spectators, and the public. We recorded zero significant incidents during this period," Maranan said.

Maranan emphasized the effective strategies implemented by PRO-7, including aerial surveillance to monitor key events, meticulous security planning, CCTVs providing live feeds to the PNP Command Center, Multi-Agency Coordinating Center, and Advanced Command Post, as well as aerial patrols, inter-agency collaboration, and intelligence-driven operations.

He added that the Long Range Acoustic Device greatly aided in crowd management, and communication with the crowds was conducted smoothly.

These strategies, Maranan said were crucial in overseeing incidents, managing traffic flow, and effectively deploying personnel and resources to ensure community safety during the festivities.

Meanwhile, their personnel on the ground demonstrated dedication by extending their hours despite the conclusion of their shifts and being reassigned to manage the influx of people. — (FREEMAN)