DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 11 (PIA) -- The province's crime rate has dropped by 31.6% in the first semester of 2022 compared to the same period last year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) here reported.

Presenting the crime statistics during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting, Lt. Col. Catherine Ramos of PNP said peace and order indicator both from index and non-index crimes in the province dropped to 1,163 or 47.3% in 2022 from 2,208 in 2021.

Index crimes refer to offenses considered serious in nature, including murder, homicide, rape, robbery, carnapping, and physical injuries.

From last year’s record, the total crime incidents reached a volume of 3,332 as compared to 2022 with 2,280 offenses.

Ramos said the PNP attributes the decrease in crime incidents to the intensified anti-criminality drive in partnership and collaboration with other security forces and local government units especially during the election period.

For non-index crimes or offenses punishable under the Revised Penal Code and Special Laws such as enforcement on Republic Act 9165 or Anti-Illegal Drugs campaign, 154 drug personalities were arrested and 5,003.81 grams of shabu were seized with a total value of more than P34 million.

Under Republic Act 9287 or the campaign against illegal gambling, the police arrested 876 persons with total bet money confiscated at P76,301.50.

For the campaign against loose firearms or R.A. 8294, the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) arrested 74 persons and seized/recovered 701 firearms.

NOPPO also offered their services, skills, and financial support to six poor families whose houses were dilapidated with decent homes under its “Bahay Mo, Sagot Ko” project.

Ramos said the police force provided 54 solar lights to homes without electricity in line with the “Ilaw Mo, Sagot Ko” project of NOPPO.

She said the peace and order situation in Negros Oriental remains generally peaceful and manageable. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)