BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – At least one person is killed every day in Negros Island Region, according to a new average released by Superintendent Moises Villaceran Jr., head of the Police Community Relations Division of Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18).
Villaceran remarked, "on average, based on our assessment from January to May this year, 7 persons were murdered per week and that is equivalent to one murder daily.”
Negros Island Region, which was created by President Benigno Aquino III through an executive order last year, is made up of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
Records at PRO-18 showed 145 murders were reported in the two provinces in the first 5 months of 2016. Of the total number, 29 murders were committed last month.
Villaceran said most of these cases were due to grudges or drunkenness.
In 2015, a total of 437 murder cases were reported in the region, at an average of 8 killings per week, a PRO-18 report also said..
Sixty-six homicide cases were reported from January to May this year, while 170 incidents were recorded from January to December last year.
Of the 66 incidents, 11 homicides were recorded in May, an average of three cases per week, the report added.
Villaceran called the figure “alarming” as it showed “almost every day there is a murder” in the region. He stressed, however, that their thrust right now is to bring down the murder and homicide cases in the region.
He said police have tapped the help of barangay leaders and the public in securing their community. They also asked help from local officials to strictly implement their anti-criminality ordinances, which includes a curfew for minors.
“This is to lessen the possible victims of crimes,” Villaceran explained.
Meanwhile, at least 2,945 crimes have been recorded in Negros Island Region from January to May this year.
Theft tops the list with 1,252 cases, followed by 875 physical injury cases, 446 robbery cases, 145 murders, 143 motor vehicle hijackings, 66 homicides, and 6 carnappings. – Rappler.com