Based on a recent report of the local police, the peace and order situation in the province of Catanduanes slightly worsened in the first six months of 2024, with the total number of index and non-index crime up by 4.9 percent.
In the report that was belatedly obtained by the Tribune, index and non-index crimes from January to June 2024 added up to 213 incidents, an increase of 10 from the 203 recorded last year.
According to the Catanduanes Police Provincial office, these types of crimes are considered peace and order indicators while those involving vehicular accidents indicate the level of public safety.
Cases of reckless imprudence, which refer to road mishaps, decreased to 159 incidents during the first half of 2024, compared to the 178 cases tagged as of the same period last year.
Overall, the total number of crimes declined from 381 last year to 372 as of June 30, 2024, or a drop of just over two (2%) percent.
Over half of the cases occurred in the capital town of Virac (186), followed by San Andres (43), and Bato (38) while the towns of Bagamanoc, Baras, Gigmoto, Pandan and Panganiban had less than 10 cases each.
In the same report that was rendered during the joint quarterly meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) last June 2024, the provincial police said the number of focus crimes was slightly down to 51 from the 53 cases last year.
As expected, Virac accounted for 59 focus crimes, or more than half of the total.
There was just one murder for the six-month period, none for homicide and just five cases of physical injury.
Rape incidents also decreased to 17, from the previous 22 last year, while robberies dipped to just six (6) compared to nine (9) in 2023.
The police said the sexual abuse incidents took place mostly in residences, with the suspect using force, threat and intimidation.
However, incidents of theft rose from 13 last year to 18 as of end of June 2024, along with carnapping of motorcycles which doubled to four cases.
Theft incidents are most likely underreported as in San Isidro Village, where the police’s Camp Francisco Camacho is located, nearly 40 such incidents have been recorded by the barangay council.
The report likewise said that thieves used “salisi” as the most common modus operandi, victimizing mostly commercial establishments and residential houses.
Non-index crimes, which include frustrated and attempted stages of focus crimes as well as violations of special laws including violations against women and children, illegal possession of firearms and drugs, illegal logging, acts of lasciviousness, direct assault, and other crimes, increased by 12 cases or eight percent to 162 as of June 2024.
Eighty-two (82) of them were committed in the capital town, with San Andres (18), Bato (14) and Caramoran (10) the other towns with double-digit figures.
On the other hand, a total of 159 Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide, RIR Physical Injury and RIR Damage to Property were recorded for the first half of 2024 but this does not indicate the total number of vehicular accidents as some result in death, physical injury and property damage.
The incidents caused three deaths, one less than in 2023, 78 injuries (a decrease of 22) and 78 properties damaged (four less than last year’s).
The CATPPO report stated that of the 381 crimes recorded, 336 are considered “cleared,” which means that a case has been filed in court, at least one suspect has been identified but none have been captured yet.
This resulted to a Crime Clearance Efficiency of 90.32% for January to June 2024, compared to the 98.95% recorded in the same period last year.
Its Crime Solution Efficiency is 73.39%, which indicates that in 273 cases, a case has been filed in court and at least one suspect has been arrested. Last year’s CSE for the same period was 85.56%.
In the campaign against Illegal drugs, the Catanduanes police arrested 14 suspects in 13 operations, confiscating a total of over 80 grams of shabu and half a gram of marijuana, with a total value of P550,000.
The Virac police station accounted for 10 of the operations and 12 arrests as well as almost all of the dangerous drugs seized.
Seventy-one (71) persons were apprehended in 25 operations against illegal gambling that also netted P30,537 in bet money, with 41 of the arrests made in Virac, San Andres and Viga.
Over 1,500 board feet of assorted sawn lumber as well as two chainsaws were recovered in seven operations against illegal logging, with cases filed against 13 suspects.
On the other hand, the campaign against illegal fishing also resulted in the filing of charges against 22 persons in the towns of Bagamanoc, Baras, Bato, Caramoran, Panganiban and San Andres.
In 30 operations, one firearm was recovered and seven others were surrendered, while 23 other guns with expired licenses were turned over for safekeeping by the police.
On Manhunt Charlie, 175 persons wanted by the courts were taken into custody, including 10 regional MWPs,12 provincial MWPs and one municipal MWPs.
In its assessment and analysis of the first six months of 2024, the Catanduanes police described the current peace and order situation as “within manageable level,” attributing the increasing number of crimes against property and vehicular incidents to the rising population in urban areas, high inflation and increasing number of vehicles.
However, it stressed, the decrease in the total number of index crime incidents implies the effectiveness of the anti-criminality campaign conducted in the province.
“The continuous liaising and involvement of other law enforcement agencies, local government units, NGOs and the active participation of the community facilitates the deterrence of crime in the locality,” it pointed out. “Thus, good rapport among these agencies should be sustained.”