The Police Regional Office in Region 4B reported on Monday that the recorded crime rate in the Mimaropa region dropped by 10.95 percent from January to 22 May this year as compared to the same period in 2022.

According to PRO-4B director Brig. Gen. Joel Doria, a total of 1,894 crime incidents since 1 January to 22 May 2023 were recorded — which is seen as a significant decline in logged crimes compared to the 2,127 incidents recorded in the same period.

For the eight focus crimes — murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, theft, robbery, carnapping and motornapping — only 328 incidents were recorded in the said period compared to 379 of the previous year which is a decrease by 13.46 percent.

All eight focus crimes also showed a remarkable decrease — Motornapping, 18.18 percent; Physical Injury, 30 percent; Robbery, 17.50 percent; Murder 17.07 percent; Homicide, 10 percent; Theft, 7.89 percent; and Rape, 3.85 percent.

Meanwhile, non-index crimes such as violation of special laws, also dropped by 20.20 percent, from 1,208 to 964.

Doria attributed the decrease in crime volume to intensified anti-criminality operations and strong partnerships between police and the community, emphasizing the importance of public support in successful community policing.

“This significant drop in crime volume was a result of the strong partnership between our police and community. This only manifests that public support is an indispensable component in the success of community policing,” Doria said.

He also assured that the PRO-4B will continue to foster stronger ties with communities and stakeholders in their pursuit of ensuring the safety and security of the community with a disciplined and more trusted police service.

“Ensuring safety and security of the community with disciplined and more trusted police service,” Doria said, as he vowed to maintain the PNP’s vigor and enthusiasm in its campaign against insurgency in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and various clusters under the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict.

The PRO-4B chief is also eyeing to intensify the implementation of DILG’s BIDA or “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” program through a multi-sectoral, and human rights-based approach in the region.