Holy Week this year more peaceful than last year’s

CEBU, Philippines — There were less crimes reported during this year’s Holy Week compared to last year’s, this according to the Police Regional Office-7.

Their report compares the crime volume of last year from March 26 to April 1 and this year from April 15 to April 21. It showed that there is a 21% decrease in crime incidents in Central Visayas compared to last year.

For index crimes which include murder, rape, carnapping, physical injuries and homicide, there was a decrease of 52%. From 253 last year, the number of crime incidents dropped to 123.

“Comparing sa katong last year and this year, there is a decrease of crime incidents,” PRO-7 Regional Director Debold Sinas said during a press conference after the presentation of the security plan for the National Youth Day.

Unlike last year where theft was the leading index crime, physical injury is this year’s leading index crime.

There were 51 physical injury incidents reported this year. Although physical injury reports led this year, the number of reports decreased by 44% percent from last year.

There were 41 theft incidents reported last year compared to last year with 92 cases reported, which made it as the most reported incident last year, meaning there is a decrease of 48%.

“Gamay nalang nangawat. Daghan na ang nagkinulatahay,” Sinas said.

Murder incidents also decreased by 71%, from 14 incidents last year to four incidents this year.

No homicide incidents were reported during Holy Week.

“Generally, aside sa gipusil na pulis, are peaceful. Walay major incident,” Sinas said.

PRO-7 is also looking at reports of vehicular accidents and drowning incidents, five of which were reported during this year’s Holy Week, in order to identify how to address such problems.

“These are the peculiarities na pwede i-prevent,” Sinas added. — Hannah D. Tejada (FREEMAN)