Abellana police station reports drop in crime

CEBU, Philippines — More than a year after the Abellana Police Station launched the Capacitating Community Stakeholders program which partnered with the management and security of hotels, pension houses, and inns in their area of responsibility, the number of crimes in the midtown of Cebu City has reportedly decreased.

Chief Inspector Maria Theresa Macatangay, Abellana Police Station chief, said that the crime volume in their area of responsibility, which includes the barangays of Kamputhaw, Capitol Site, Sambag 1, Sambag 2, Cogon Ramos, and Sta. Cruz, was 750 for June 2017 to May 2018, or 27.6 percent less compare to the 1,036 crimes from June 2016 to May 2017.

Index crimes – crimes considered serious in nature and occur with sufficient frequency and regularity– also decreases from 453 to 240 or 47 percent with top three most prevalent being theft, robbery, and physical injuries.

The station’s crime clearance efficiency and crime solution efficiency also increased to 29.15 percent and 28.29 percent, respectively, said Macatangay.

The partnership of the Abellana Police with the hotel, pension houses, and inns started last June 2017 with the purpose of fighting crime in their area in coordination with the police.

“Makita nato nga ang krimen diri sa area nato sa sugbo niubos g’yud sukad nga atong gi-engage ang komunidad especially ang accommodation industry sa pagtabang og bantay para ma-prevent ug ma-detect ang any criminalities as they unfold,” Macatangay said.

“Nasayod man ta nga if we engage with the community to help us and support us in our anti-criminality campaign much can be achieved and much can be done,” she added.

Yesterday, the Abellana police again gathered the managers and security officers of hotels, pension houses and inns in their jurisdiction for the election of a new set of officers and also for the Memorandum of Agreement between the PNP and the representatives of the stakeholders.

Macatangay commended the security personnel and management of hotels, inns, and pension houses for supporting the PNP’s campaign against crime. — BRP (FREEMAN)