DAVAO CITY – Crimes committed in the city for the third quarter this year reached 5,166 cases, which is a drastic increase from the same period last year.
But the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said their crime solution had been efficient as they solved 53 % or 2,034 of these cases, as compared to last year’s crime solution efficiency of 34.85%.
These figures were presented during a courtesy call to the City Council session on Tuesday by DCPO director Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao.
He also revealed that the city’s crime volume increased by 15% in the third quarter covering July to September compared to the second quarter from April to June which recorded 4,354 cases.
Danao told the City Council that the increase in crime incidents can be attributed to the start of the “Ber” months, referring to the period leading to Christmas season.
The DCPO recorded index crimes or violations against persons and properties in the third quarter went up to 2,255 cases, a 52% from the same period last year which recorded 1,078 cases.
Index crimes are those classified as violations against persons and properties such as theft, robbery, physical injuries or murder.
Most number of cases under the index crimes are theft with 925 cases, physical injuries (826), and robbery (336).
Danao said most cases of index crimes were recorded in business areas along the vicinity in San Pedro Street and Santa Ana Avenue.
Non-index crimes in the same quarter recorded a sharp 67% increase from last year, from 956 in 2013 up 2,911 in this year’s third quarter.
Non-index crimes are violations of special laws against illegal drugs, violence against women and children, and others.
The DCPO said they had arrested 175 persons in 63 operations related to non-index crimes. Arrests of suspected drug pushers totaled 262 in 181 operations.
Danao estimated that minors or children in conflict with the law (CICL) were accounted at most 15% of the cases. But he said that the police would follow the orientation of “rescuing” CICL and bring them to the custody of the City Social Service Department Office for rehabilitation and coordination with the minors’ families.
In the regular PNP/AFP Press Corps forum on Wednesday, Danao said it would be “impossible for a city like Davao to achieve a zero-crime rate”, but stressed the police force is doing its efforts to stop crime.
He cited the effective crime solving rate to efforts from the police force such as more visibility and 24-7 patrol.
Danao also said the DCPO has communicated regularly with barangay auxiliaries to help in policing barangays.
“I gave them simple reminders, and I encourage everyone to be conscious on crime prevention. This is everybody’s business,” he said. (Tyrone A. Velez/davaotoday.com)
