LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – – The province remains peaceful with an observed decrease of focused crimes except carnapping.
Police Provincial Deputy Police Supt Luisito Meris reported during the recent Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting that for the period January to October 2018, the average crime rate decreased by 34 percent compared to the same period last year.
Focused crime rates are murder, homicide, rape, physical injuries, carnapping of motor vehicles, robbery, and theft.
The reported decrease in focused crime rate are as follows: murder, 20% ; homicide, 20%; rape, 14%; physical injuries, 28%; carnapping of motor vehicle,70%; robbery, 39%; and theft 7%.
Meris attributed the decrease in crime rate to the increase in police operation activities, increase in the latching of criminals, and good police community relations.
But he is not discounting the possibility that the lowering of crimes may also be attributed to better and improved life of the people. Hence, crimes committed for survival or economic reasons were minimized.
Governor Crescencio Pacalso is happy on the maintained peace and order in the province. This, he said, is a reflection and manifestation of the cooperation of all member agencies on peace keeping efforts which he hopes will continue even during the election period.
Pacalso said, so far the province has never experienced any election-related violence and still remains the most peaceful. **JDP/SCA-PIA CAR, Benguet
