The Catanduanes Police Provincial Office has reported that index crimes such as murder, rape and robbery decreased by 13 percent last year compared to 2022 figures.
However, it noted that cases blamed on reckless imprudence on the province’s roads increased by over a third, resulting in the unnecessary death of 13 people.
In its year-end report, the police said there were a total of 114 index crimes committed in 2023, compared to 133 the year before, with the capital town of Virac accounting for 42 percent.
These include three (3) murders, compared to six in 2022, along with 15 physical injuries, 37 rapes, 23 robberies, 33 cases of theft and three cases of carnapping of motorcycle.
Rape cases declined by 10 from 47 in 2022 to 37 last year, distributed by town as follows: Virac, 11; San Andres, 7; Pandan, 4; Caramoran, 4; Bagamanoc, 4; Viga, 3; Baras, 2; Bato, 1; and Gigmoto, 1.
Almost three-fourths of the thieveries, or 24 cases, occurred in the capital municipality while the bulk of the robberies were recorded in Viga (8), Virac (5) and San Andres (5).
Non-index crimes, which consist of attempted or frustrated focus crimes cases, other crimes and violations of special laws, were slightly down from 322 to 311 cases.
The most significant change in the crime situation in Catanduanes last year was the 31 percent uptick in the number of public safety index cases, particularly those involving reckless imprudence on the island’s roads which increased to 351 from the previous 267 in 2022.
While the number of fatalities arising from vehicular accidents rose by just 1 from 12 to 13 last year, those resulting in physical injuries grew to 178 from the previous 150 while cases of damage to property increased by half to 160, or 55 more than the 105 recorded in 2022.
Of the 13 fatalities from road accidents last year, seven lost their lives along the highways of San Andres town, with Virac accounting for two deaths and Pandan, Viga, San Miguel and Bato contributing one each.
Meanwhile, in its report on operational accomplishments, the Catanduanes police said that last year’s campaign against illegal drugs led to the arrest of 21 suspects in 20 operations and the confiscation of 186 grams of shabu as well as 1.924 grams of marijuana with a total value of P1.27 million.
Cases were also filed against 275 persons caught engaging in illegal gambling, with P68,284 in bet money seized in the 91 operations.
Nearly 2,600 board feet of different sizes of lumber, seven chainsaws and 10 motor vehicles were either confiscated or recovered in 34 operations against illegal logging.
Cases were filed against the 49 arrested suspects and five others remain at large, with two minors rescued by the authorities.
In the campaign against illegal fishing, 88 people were haled to court but the report did not detail whether illegal fishing paraphernalia were confiscated during the 32 operations conducted by the police.
During 2023, a total of 90 firearms, including 32 guns with expired licenses turned over for safekeeping by their owners, came into custody of the Catanduanes police.
Seven were confiscated from the same number of persons while 52 firearms were surrendered to police stations.
In the neutralization of wanted persons, the police arrested eight fugitives from justice who were included in the regional Most Wanted Persons list, along with 21 at the provincial level, 26 at the municipal level, and 404 described as “other wanted persons.”