LOWER CRIME RATES. Davao City Police Office Director, Police Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum announces that the crime rate in the city has reduced to 44 percent in the second quarter this year compared to last year’s record on the same period. Tagum told reporters on Wednesday, August 2, the enhancement of the police integrated patrol system including the Oplan Iron City or the Oplan Integrated Revitalized Operation of Neighborhood-Watch for the Mega City (IRON CITY) was one of the main reasons why the crime rates dropped. (Robby Joy D. Salveron/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has recorded a significant decrease in the overall crime rate in the city.
DCPO Director, Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum told reporters on Wednesday, August 2, the focus crime rates including murder, physical injury, theft and robbery have declined.
According to the 2017 second quarter report presented by the DCPO during the City Peace and Order Council regular meeting, the crime rate in Davao City decreased to 44 percent compared to the same period last year.
Theft had the biggest decrease, from 282 in 2016 to 120 of the same quarter this year while motorcycle vehicle theft sharply declined from 38 last year to three cases only.
Motor vehicle theft on one hand had the same number having only one case reported.
Other focus crimes having significant decrease include: murder which dropped from 47 in 2016 to 27 in 2017; physical injury which dropped from 132 to 111; rape from 70 to 51; and robbery from 104 to 61.
All of the cases recorded a decrease in number except for homicide cases which increased from six reported cases in 2016 to seven this year.
Tagum attributed the reduction of crime rates to the enhancement of the police integrated patrol system including the Oplan Iron City or the Oplan Integrated Revitalized Operation of Neighborhood-Watch for the Mega City (IRON City) which was launched in May wherein about 910 police auxiliaries were deployed to different key areas around the city.
The Oplan Iron City, an upgraded police integrated patrol system, aims to beef up security measures in the city through the active and empowered volunteer police auxiliaries.
Tagum said the key to a very successful security operation for major cities like Davao is the “enhancement of police integrated patrol system.”
“That is why my first request to our city mayor who is very supportive of the program of DCPO is for the approval for the activation of our volunteer police auxiliary because we have to maximize our police deployment with the volunteer police auxiliary body in all the city streets of Davao,” Tagum said.
Meanwhile, City Administrator Zulieka Lopez said they are commending the Davao City Police Office for the “job well done.”
“Pinapaalam lang po ng ating City Mayor na she’s commending, the City Government of Davao is commending the Davao City Police Office particularly headed by our city director, Sir Alex Tagum, for a job well done because the crime rate has decreased very much significantly,” Lopez said
Tagum said they continue to be on full alert especially with the upcoming Kadayawan festival.(davaotoday.com)
