TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Total crimes in Bohol from April to June 30, 2024 increased by 7.6 percent, in spite of the noted decrease in crimes affecting the local and internal peace and order situation.
During the recent joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Provincial Anti Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) held at the Capitol Ceremonial Hall and presided by PPOC chairman Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado recently, Camp Dagohoy crime statisticians presented the comparative total crime incidents happening all over Bohol from April to June 2023 and of the same period this year.
Camp Dagohoy chief and Bohol Police Provincial Director Police Senior Superintendent Lorenzo A. Batuan, in his presentation, bared that of the peace and order indicators tracked by the police crime statisticians, total crimes of the period in 2023 reached 797, which sunk 86 crimes less, to 711 in 2024, for a 10.79 percent decrease.
However, crimes involving public safety told an entirely depressing story.
Of the 808 cases recorded between April to June in 2023, the figure surged 25.74 percent or some 208 more caes this year.
“From 808 cases in 2023, crimes affecting public safety increased to 1,016, some 208 more cases noted this year as against last year,” Colonel Batuan pointed out.
In total, crimes involving peace and order and crimes affecting public safety in 2023 reached a count of 1,605, of this, some 122 new crimes listed ion 2024, resulted to an average total crime increase to 7.60 percent.
This, Colonel Batuan quickly pointed out, is not much of a concern to the image of Bohol as a prime investment and tourism destination.
The increase, which is influenced generally by the surge in crimes involving public safety, is something that is way beyond police crime-busting control.
“We keep reminding motorists to drive cautiously to avoid incidents,” Col Batuan claimed.
The top police official added that fiesta celebrations are not helping, and putting aggressive law enforcement operations in setting up police checkpoints are clogging traffic, as unauthorized drivers would rather wait it out until the checkpoint disbands, and they can pass through.
This issue has since spawned problems in traffic incidents, has fueled the increase in crimes in Bohol.
According to Camp Dagohoy, damage to property caused by traffic related incidents in Bohol from April to June 2023 showed 363 incidents, and by the same period this year, incidents revved up to 544.
Similarly, physical injuries caused by traffic related incidents also crept up to 453 from a mere 430 in the same period last year.
As to homicide caused by traffic related incidents, the 15 cases last year is now 19 incidents, a 26.67 percent increase noted.
Overall, of the 1,727 public safety crimes logged in police blotters in the last 4 months after April 2024, there were only 1,605 incidents involving peace and order, pulling up the entire crime situation.
To get a grab in the slipping situation, Col Batuan said the Bohol Provincial Police Office would religiously exert efforts in the implementation of sustained police presence and increase police operations especially on PNP flagship programs, continue intelligence-driver police operations against drug personalities, intensify operations against loose fire-arms and sustain the coordination and collaboration with other agencies for the success of Barangay Drug Clearing Program and crime prevention, as well as strengthen the intelligence community. (PIABohol)
