‘HOLIDAY CRIMES’

Police gird for ‘ber’ months’ criminals

ILOILO City – Theft and the infliction of physical harm are the most prevalent crimes in this city, according to Senior Superintendent Martin Defensor, director of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO). Cases of these could further increase these “ber” months (September, October, November, and December) as more holiday shoppers flock to the city, he said.

“Especially papasok ang December. Madamo activities so expect na mataas angincidents,” said Defensor after a meeting with Mayor Jose Espinosa III at city hall.

As a crime prevention measure, said Defensor, policemen’s visibility would be enhanced especially in areas where people converge such as malls and plazas.

There would be checkpoints and more cops would be doing fieldwork.

“We expect more shoppers during the ‘ber’ months. Amo na ang aton tutukan,” said Defensor.

He assured Ilonggos policemen would follow due process in maintaining peace and order.

“I always believe in the spirit of the law…I always said this, na maging fair ako, walangfoul play, puro legitimate operations ang himuon ko,” said Defensor.

Early this week, the ICPO beefed up its force with 146 new policemen from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).

They would be posted in the city’s seven districts – City Proper, La Paz, Lapuz, Jaro, Mandurriao, Molo, and Arevalo.

“We expect petty street criminals such as snatchers and pickpockets to take advantage of the holiday season so we have to be alert,” said Defensor.

The chief of PRO-6’s Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division, Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas, said this southern city remains peaceful.

“The tranquillity of the city can be partly attributed to the campaign against illegal drugs. If we won’t address this now, peace and order would be a problem,” said Biñas, the predecessor of Defensor.

He was reacting to the question posed by the Sangguniang Panlungdod, “Is Iloilo City still safe?”

The city council cited the recent spate of killings – by policemen and unidentified riding-in-tandem assassins – targeting mostly drug suspects.

According to Biñas, the city is unsafe only to those who violate laws.

ICPO data showed a total of 5,600 crimes from Jan. 1 to Sept. 13 this year with the following breakdown:

* traffic / vehicular incidents – 67 percent or 3,757

* violations of penal laws – 11.39 percent or 638

* non-index crimes – 10.98 percent or 615

* index crimes – 10.54 percent or 590

“Index crimes, generally, are crimes against persons and property. This is used as an index or guide to determine the peace and order in a locality. When you have a high index crime, you have a serious peace and order problem,” said Biñas.

The most prevalent index crimes in Iloilo City were physical injury and theft, followed by robbery and rape, ICPO data showed.

On the other hand, the most prevalent non-index crimes were traffic-related (vehicular incidents) resulting to damage to properties (3,196), injuries (557) and deaths (14).

Under the category “violation of penal laws”, Biñas said, the most prevalent were violence against women and children, child abuse, and violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

SOURCE: Panay News

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