CEBU CITY, Cebu, March 31 (PIA) -- Central Visayas continues to be a safe place to live and do business in as crime rate dips for the first quarter this year compared to the same period of 2022.

From January to March 2023, the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO7) recorded a total of 740 index crimes, 112 less incidents than the 852 incidents in 2022.

Highlighted was the decrease in the number of index crimes centered on the eight focus crimes, namely: theft, robbery, rape, physical injury, murder, homicide, carnapping of motor cycle, and carnapping of motor vehicle in the region.

Non-index crimes like illegal drugs and illegal gambling have also declined as reported by PRO-7 during the first quarterly meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council for 2023 on March 30.

All the city and provincial offices recorded a downward trend in crime volume except for Cebu City which recorded 206 index crimes for 2023 compared to the 162 incidents in 2022.

The crime incident increase in Cebu City was attributed to the high influx of people during the Sinulog festivities and activities.

PRO7 also disclosed that the regional office ranks number one for the four-day illegal drugs accomplishment report nationwide.

PRO7 expressed optimism that the decline would continue because of the intensified efforts of the Philippine National Police against all forms of criminality. (MYP/PIA7)