Iloilo City posted the biggest decline in the number of crime incidents among major areas in Western Visayas.

From January to June this year, the city recorded a decrease of 42.22 percent or 597 incidents compared to the same period last year, data from the Police Regional Office (PRO-6) showed.

Guimaras came in second with a decline of 13.48 percent or 24 incidents, followed by Iloilo province, 12.04 percent or 155 incidents; Bacolod City, 9.23 percent or 54 incidents; Aklan, 3.96 percent or 19 incidents, Negros Occidental, 2.13 percent or 31 incidents; and Capiz, 0.71 percent or three incidents.

Only the province of Antique posted an increase in the first half of 2022. Its crime incidents went up by 11 from 347 in 2021 to 358 this year.

Overall, the region registered a 4.06 percent decrease in crime incidents.

PRO-6 logged a total of 10,849 crime incidents in the first six months of the year, lower compared to last year’s 10, 408 incidents.

Cases under the peace and order indicator declined by 13.02 percent from 5,926 to 5,154.

Meanwhile, the incidents of eight focus crimes also decreased by 11.49 percent from 1,444 to 1,278.

The eight focus crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of motor vehicle, and carnapping of motorcycle.

PRO-6 director Police Brigadier General Flynn E. Dongbo commended the efforts of all police units and their personnel for the collective contribution.

“Congratulations and continue assessing your respective areas of responsibility and address the peace and order concerns that are peculiar therein,” he said.

Dongbo urged his personnel to maintain their crime prevention efforts and maximize coordination and collaboration with local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders.IMT