Crime incidents down 5%

A total of 15,881 crime incidents were recorded in Metro Manila from January to November this year, down by five percent from the 16,670 cases listed for the same period last year, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday.

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol said the peace and order situation in Metro Manila is now at a manageable level.

"Despite the lack of resources, this office was able to deliver the kind of service the people expected," Querol said in his year-end report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao.

The NCRPO chief said the people’s confidence in reporting crimes to the police was at "an all-time high."

He also cited the active support of the community and partnership with government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and private organizations for "winning the streets and keeping our families safe."

"The low over-all crime volume for the period in review was affected by the 1.34 percent decrease in index crimes and nine percent decline in non-index crimes," Querol said. "For months to come, we shall continue to enhance our efforts and upgrade our capabilities in pursuance of our vision of a National Capital Region that is the safest place and the NCRPO that is the finest in the country."

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., NCRPO intelligence chief, said of the 15,881 crime incidents recorded, 14,786 cases were solved for a 93.1 percent crime solution efficiency.

The average monthly crime rate (AMCR) for the period is 14.57 crime incidents per 100,000 population, which is also lower than the 15.3 for last year," said Rojas.

"For the period in review, robbery, theft and physical injuries cases are the most prevalent crimes in Metro Manila," he said.

According to Rojas, NCRPO intelligence manhunt teams continue to gain operational successes, especially in its campaign against criminal gangs as well as terrorist elements roaming the streets of Metro Manila.

Among the major accomplishments cited by the NCRPO in its year-end report were the killing of a robber who hit a convenience store in Taguig City last Jan. 1; the killing of four holdup men in Quezon City last April 12; the arrest of Pascualito Casuela, his wife, Delita and Ramonito Baguio and Gil Dato for robbing the Union Bank branch in Pasay City last Apr. 25, and the killing of five notorious robbers during an encounter also in Quezon City on Apr. 26.

On kidnapping for ransom, the NCRPO also played a key role in the killing of Allan Balimbingan, the No. 4 most wanted person in the country during an encounter in Samar; the arrest of Jessie Cagas and two others in Tondo last Feb. 5; the safe rescue of Katrina Schoof and Jeffrey Santos and the subsequent arrest of PO1 Alvin Velasquez and 10 others; and the arrest of controversial NBI agent Martin Soriano and three of his cohorts for the abduction of Caroline Guillen last Jan. 31.

The NCRPO also neutralized the Nognog car theft group with the arrest of Christopher Orillaza and Marlon Caneso in Valenzuela City last March 31 and the arrest of Boy Pagdanganan, Arman Padilla,Carliton Torres, Antonio Garcia and Arthur Carlos in Quezon City last March 22.

The NCRPO arrested four rogue cops identified as Superintendent Pancho Hubilla, Chief Inspector Crisostomo Mendoza, Chief Inspector Jacob Macabali and Chief Inspector Raymundo Liguden for the illegal arrest of pyramid scam suspect Ireneo Espinocilla and his daughter, Rodora.

The NCRPO conducted a total of 5,121 operations related to prohibited drugs. A total of 541 pushers and 3,903 users were arrested while 8,932 grams of shabu, 21,266 grams of dried marijuana leaves and assorted drug paraphernalia were seized. A total of 857 cases were filed in court.

As part of disciplining its ranks, the NCRPO dismissed 127 erring personnel and demoted 21 others. It sanctioned and forfeited the salaries of 1,549 policemen, reprimanded 453, while dropped the cases against 188 others.

While the NCRPO was quick to punish erring personnel, it also gave out 11,492 medals and awards, 18 of them Medalya ng Kadakilaan, to deserving personnel.