2024 crimes down by 3.92%

says Camp Dagohoy report

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov 7 (PIA)—A month before the official bowing out of Boholano police Director Lorenzo Batuan, his leadership left yet another legacy with crimes in the entire province decreasing by nearly 4 percent in the period July 1 to September 30, 2024, compared to the same period last year.

Barely two weeks old Camp Dagohoy Police Provincial Director Colonel Arnel Banzon, finds this news something that the local force should maintain, even as he came in for a huge challenge: to continue Col. Batuan’s accomplishments, equal if not surpass them, as to police regional director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin.

Col. Banzon, through his operations officer Police Major Christopher Fernandez, pointed out during the joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) that from July 1 to September 30, 2024, crimes getting to the police blotters all over Bohol reached 1,592, some 65 cases lesser than the crimes reported in the same period last year.

Maj Fernandez pointed out that in that period in 2024, crimes classified under the threats to local peace and order reached 645, as against last year’s 695.

The decrease of 50 cases, is equivalent to 7.19 percent, he said.

Of these cases mentioned, crimes which can be punished by the provisions of the Revised Penal Code reached 138 cases in that period in 2024 as against 204 cases last year.

On the other hand, cases which are prosecuted by the special laws legislated for these crimes, Camp Dagohoy noted a slight increase in cases from 491 cases in 2023 to 507 cases in the same period in 2024.

This, however shows that the police are even more proactive in their functions, implementing their mandated tasks and initiating enforcement operations that resulted to a more perceived police presence by criminals and their groups.

As to crimes that threaten the public safety, Camp Dagohoy crime statisticians noted yet another decrease, for the period cited.

From July 1 to Sept 30, 2024, public safety incidents reached 947 cases, but this was 15 cases fewer or 1.56 percent less than of the same period in 2023 when there were 962 incidents.

Majority of these public safety incidents involve traffic incidents where there were noted reckless imprudence resulting to damage of property, physical injuries or homicide.

The police official reported that in reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property, from the crimes noted in 2023 at 482, the figure jumped to 521 in 2024, some 9.05 percent increase.

For reckless imprudence resulting to injuries, the cases however proved to be good, from 453 in 2023 to 412 in 2024 and homicide cases as result of this concern of traffic violations also brought in 14 cases in 2024 as against 27 cases noted in the same 92 days, last year.

Major Fernandez himself showed that there is a considerable number of incidents where negative traffic incidents involved foreigners who rented out vehicles from locals.

He said they noted 12 incidents where foreigners were victims while 13 cases where these foreign tourists are themselves suspects in reckless imprudence.

With this, the police official, speaking for the entire police force, sought the PPOC for support in the move to regulate motorcycle rental businesses, noting that there were incidents that suspects using rented vehicles were even allowed to drive without valid driver’s licenses, or in some cases, rented vehicles were used in criminal activities. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

TRAFFIC CONCERN. In the absence of Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado, the PPOC meeting had Sangguniang Panlalawigan Peace and Order Chair Board Member Tomas Abapo presiding. The PPOC also believes that looking into the rising cases of traffic incidents and the economic as well as life lost in these incidents can be curbed with proper regulations. (PIABohol)