Mandaluyong crime rate down in 1st half

The crime rate in Mandaluyong City has been reduced by 2.3 percent in the first six months of 2006, proving itself as one of the cities in Metro Manila with the lowest incidence of crime.

Based on the record of the Eastern Police District (EPD) Intelligence and Investigation Division, the index crimes or cases dropped by 9.23 percent from January to July 2006 relative to the crime statistics recorded for the same period in 2005.

On the other hand, the non-index crimes or cases covered by special law declined by 20.11 percent.

Out of the total number of crime against person, only physical injury cases were recorded with an increase of 4.35 percent. While the cases of murder, homicide and rape decreased by 50 to 80 percent, which showed a 20.6 percent decrease from crime against person. The crime against property such as robbery reduced by 20 percent while theft increased by 25 percent.

Thus, this represents a 17.21 percent decrease from the volume of crime incidents in Mandaluyong, according to Chief Inspector Efren Jugo.

"The team effort of the Mandaluyong police is indeed commendable since maintaining peace and order in one place is a hard responsibility. And I am glad that Mandaluyong is not contributory to the high crime rate in Metro Manila. I take my hat off to every policeman of Mandaluyong because they truly deserve commendation," said Mayor Neptali Gonzales II.

Senior Superintendent Erickson Velasquez, Mandaluyong police chief, attributed the decline of crime cases in the city to the continuous support of Gonzales, the business sector, and the barangays.

Velasquez also cited the importance of teamwork between the authorities and the barangays, adding that going down to the grassroots is one of the keys of their success in curbing criminality in the city.

"We are lucky that every sector in Mandaluyong is supportive in our pursuit to lessen if not totally terminate criminality in the city. We are thankful that Mayor Gonzales is appreciative of our efforts," he said.

Gonzales asked Mandaluyong residents to be vigilant in order to prevent hostile incidents in the city.