BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO – Western Visayas welcomed 2024 with peace and order. The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), under the leadership of Brigadier General Sidney N. Villaflor, recorded zero major crimes during the New Year celebrations.
Villaflor said the successful crime prevention efforts and increased police visibility contributed to a significant decrease of 53.12 percent, or 15 cases, in the eight focus crimes from Dec. 31, 2023, to Jan. 1, 2024.
This is a notable drop from the 32 cases in the same period during the 2023 New Year celebrations.
The eight focus crimes were murder, homicide, rape, physical injury, robbery, theft, carnapping of vehicles, and carnapping of motorcycles.
Also called index crimes, focus crimes are crimes considered serious and occurring with sufficient frequency and regularity that they are considered index to the crime situation in a given area.
PRO-6 data showed that these 15 cases recorded comprised three murders, three homicides, six physical injuries, one robbery, and two thefts.
Villaflor expressed his gratitude to the public, civil society organizations, stakeholders, and other law enforcement agencies for their cooperation and support that resulted in a safe, secure, and joyful celebration of the New Year.
Stray Bullet Incidents
Two stray bullet incidents and one case of indiscriminate firing were reported during the New Year revelry and are currently under investigation.
One stray bullet incident was reported and confirmed by the police in Barangay Balabag, Pavia in Iloilo province.
A local homeowner discovered a bullet on their kitchen floor past 2 a.m. on Jan. 1, according to Major Rolando Araño, spokesperson for the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
In Guimbal, Iloilo, 1st District Rep. Janette Garin also found a slug in her residence.
Investigation revealed that the discovered slug may have only coincidentally ended up where it was recovered.
Araño further explained that the damage to their glass door near where the slug was found was likely a result of a blast from boga or a firecracker rather than a bullet impact.
Meanwhile, in Calinog, a Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson of Barangay Alibunan also claimed a possible stray bullet incident that broke their television.
However, the Calinog Municipal Police Station refuted this claim, stating that it was caused by a blast, potentially from a firecracker.
Araño emphasized that no evidence of a bullet passing through any part of the residence was found. No slug was recovered at the scene, he added.
In a similar incident, a resident in Zone 7, Barangay Don Esteban, Lapuz, Iloilo City, claimed to the press that he found a bullet fragment on their toilet floor during New Year’s celebrations.
However, Lieutenant Maryglo Morden, officer-in-charge of Iloilo City Police Station 2, said this case has yet to be reported to the police.
“Duty sang kapulisan nga imbestigahan kag batunon ang tanan nga information kag mag conduct thorough investigation in relation to crimes, especially stray bullets during holiday celebrations. Kung ano man ang result sang investigation ipabalo na gilayon sa complainant para nga makampante man sila nga indi gali stray bullet ang insidente nga natabo,” Araño said./PN
