Crime incidence in Catanduanes down by 45%

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, June 18 (PIA) -- Crime volume here in Catanduanes decreased by 45 percent in the first five months of year 2012, as compared to the crime rate in the same period last year.

This was disclosed by the Catanduanes Provincial Police Office during a meeting of the Provincial Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council held last week, June 7 at the Kemji Resort in Virac.

According to Police Senior Superintendent Lito B. Pitallano, PNP provincial director, only 167 crimes were reported during the given period of 2012, compared to the 305 crime incidents during the previous year.

He likewise revealed that the murder and rape index crimes dropped by 49 percent with 106 last year from only 54 this year (five-month period).

Breakdown of index crime reports as follows: physical injuries (23 cases), rape (15 cases), robbery (6 cases) and theft (5 cases) accounting for a decrease by 43 percent, 28 percent, 11 percent, and 9 percent, respectively.

There were also 42 crimes reported against persons and 12 against property.

The official also added that the local police crime clearance efficiency rallied from 25. 61 percent last year to only 13.9 percent this year of the same period.

PNP here is optimistic that crime index percentage decrease will continue to improve until the end of the year. (MAL/EAB-PIA Catanduanes)