The number of shooting incidents in Negros Oriental in 2025 dropped 19.69 percent to 53 compared to 66 the previous year, an official said.

Captain Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that this was due to their sustained enhanced police operations, especially against loose firearms.

“Last year, 22 cases were cleared, 29 were solved, while two are under investigation,” Polinar said.

In 2024, 19 cases were cleared, 45 solved, and two under investigation.

He clarified that “solved cases” in police terminology refer to those that have been submitted to the court and where the offenders have been apprehended or identified and charged.

Polinar said they are not aware of the case statuses since prosecutors take over once cases are filed in court.

Meanwhile, in the campaign against loose firearms, a total of 1,244 firearms were seized or recovered last year, while 1,481 were seized in 2024.

The police arrested 80 individuals last year in 1,187 various modes of operation, such as during checkpoints, service of search warrants, drug buy-bust operations, and others.

The previous year recorded 68 individuals arrested, with 1,246 operations conducted. (PNA)