The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has reported a reduction in crime cases in the province in the past eight months.

At the joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council in Bacolod City on Thursday, September 5, NOCPPO deputy provincial director for operations, Colonel Edison Garcia said crime incidents declined to 2,708 from January to August this year, compared to 3,037 in the same period in 2023.

Index crimes and crimes against property decreased from 509 in 2023 to 315 this year, Garcia said.

Crimes against property include robbery, theft, carnapping, and cattle rustling, while index crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, and rape.

Non-index crimes or violation of special laws increased to 1,796, from 1,705 in 2023.

The NOCPPO arrested 1,968 illegal gambling violators, and confiscated P497,814 in cash bets.

A total of 114 firearms from 100 violators were recovered from 101 operations.

Garcia said the decline in the number of crime incidents was due to intensified police operations and visibility, checkpoint operations, law enforcement, and implementation of local ordinances./WDJ