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Crime
here up by 28%
The
crime volume in the province of Catanduanes
increased by nearly a third to 314 cases last
year, with the capital town of Virac accounting
for 45 percent of the total.
In
the annual accomplishment report prepared by the
Philippine National Police provincial office,
the crime volume increased by 69 cases from the
1999 figure of 245. This translates to an
average monthly crime rate of 10.8, greater than
the previous figure of 8.49.
Of
the 314 cases, only 4 were unsolved at the end
of the year, for a Crime Solution Efficiency of
98.7 percent, same as in 1999. The majority of
the crimes occurred in the months of March (42
cases), September (39), April (34) and October
(33).
The
crime distribution by municipality is as
follows: Virac, 142; San Andres, 45; Caramoran,
24; Bato, 22; Pandan, 21; San Miguel, 17; Viga,
16; Baras, 9; Panganiban, 7; Gigmoto, 6; and,
Bagamanoc, 5.
Index
crimes increased by 3 cases to 150 from 147 in
1999, for a negligible 2.05 percent hike. Here's
the rundown (with percentage increases in
parentheses): murder, 8 (-33%); homicide, 14
(+27%); physical injury, 55 (+22%); rape, 31
(+15%); robbery, 15 (-46%); and, theft, 27
(+12%).
The
report sent by Deputy Provincial Director Supt.
Ramon S. Ranara to Gov. Hector S. Sanchez, the
PNP maintained nine KBB centers and organized
two auxiliary groups - the Samahang Kasurog (SAMAKA)
and Barangay Against Crime and Drug Abuse (BARCADA)
- with 1,111 members provincewide. He said the
11 police stations spent a total of 24,800
man-hours in mobile and foot patrols.
In
the campaign against illegal drugs, 536
operations resulted in the neutralization of 17
drug pushers and the confiscation of 20.9 grams
of shabu and 9.7 grams of dried marijuana leaves
with an estimated street value of P72,000.00.
Five cases are still pending in court and five
drug dependents sent for rehabilitation.
The
local police also accounted for 18 loose
firearms through confiscation or voluntary
surrender, with one classified as high-powered,
and five more still to be found.
In
its anti-robbery campaign, the Virac police
arrested nine suspects in a series of robberies,
with operatives recovering P110,000 plus a
tricycle bought out of the loot, in the P300,000
robbery at the motorpool residence of DPWH
district engineer Mariano S. Saret.
Camp
Camacho likewise investigated 21 police officer
for violation of PNP rules and regulations, with
one non-commissioned officer suspended and 18
earning reprimands. The 12 Women's and
Children's Desks also received 53 complaints,
with 34 of them committed against women and 19
against children.
Due
to lack of qualified commissioned officers, only
seven of the 11 municipal police stations have
police chiefs holding the rank of Inspector,
with the rest manned by SPO4s.
In
the campaign against wanted persons, a total of
209 fugitives from justice were arrested in
2000. A total of 62,875 board feet of illegally
cut sawn lumber were recovered by joint PNP/DENR
personnel, who also seized a chainsaw and two
bicycles used in the activity.
In
illegal fishing, 346 seaborne/monitoring
missions led to the arrest of 37 suspects and
the seizure of 467 kilos of fish, two motor
bancas and four fine mesh nets. Seven carnapped
vehicles were likewise recovered by operatives
of the Provincial Police Office.
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