ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is shifting focus toward sustaining its gains in public safety after reporting a 20.7 percent drop in crime incidents across Western Visayas from January to September 2025 — an encouraging sign as the region braces for the busy “ber” months.
From 14,589 incidents during the same period last year, crime cases went down to 14,380 this year, according to the latest report from PRO-6.
The agency also logged a 10.54 percent decline under the Peace and Order Indicator (POI), from 6,382 to 5,722 cases.
Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, regional director of PRO-6, said the improvement reflects stronger law enforcement visibility and community vigilance.
“The consistent downtrend in our crime statistics reflects the hard work of our personnel and the vigilance of the public,” Ligan said. “During the ‘ber’ months, when economic and social activities increase, our goal is to sustain this momentum and keep Western Visayas safe and secure.”
Index crimes — covering serious offenses like murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, and theft — plummeted by 20.74 percent, from 1,591 to 1,261 cases.
Non-index crimes, which include violations of special laws, also dropped by 6.89 percent, from 4,791 to 4,461 cases.
Among the 10 focus crimes, the region recorded a 20.88 percent reduction, from 1,585 incidents last year to 1,254 this year. Physical injury, theft, and rape remain the most frequently reported but have all shown noticeable declines.
Despite the seasonal spike in movement and commerce typical of the “ber” months, PRO-6 maintains that Western Visayas remains generally peaceful and orderly. Police stations have been directed to heighten surveillance and ensure rapid response to any disturbance.
“This drop in crime rate is not just a number — it’s a reflection of our collective effort,” Ligan added. “We call on everyone to continue cooperating with our law enforcers.”
To build on the momentum, PRO-6 has launched a “Zero Crime Christmas” campaign, deploying additional foot patrols, checkpoints, and anti-criminality operations across the region to ensure the safety of residents and tourists during the holiday season./PN
