Stop misinformation about Naga — Robredo

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has called on authorities to spare Naga City from misinformation after Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde chief mistakenly tagged it as among the cities with the highest crime volume. 

Robredo cited news reports  quoting PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr. clarifying Albayalde’s statement.

“Totally unacceptable for a city like Naga, whose success has been because of effective leadership and hard work of Nagueños to be at the receiving end of misinformation all because of politics,” Robredo said. 

“The PNP chief claims Naga consistently ranked fifth in crime volume all over the country. The truth: murder, 34th; homicide, 24th to 26th; rape, 29th; robbery, 11th; theft, 6th,” Robredo said in a post on Twitter. 

In a resolution, the Naga City council condemnedPresident Duterte’s statement that Naga is a hotbed of shabu.

Durana said Naga City is ranked sixth in the total crime volume from January to July 2018 while it is ranked second in the index crime volume... compared to the other six provinces in the Bicol region.

“My sincere apology for this oversight and whatever inconvenience it may have caused in which I, as acting chief public information officer, is solely responsible,” Durana said.

Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino also disputed Albayalde’s statement that Olongapo is among the cities with the highest crime volume.

“How did he come up with the list?... Based on records, Olongapo City is the second most peaceful place in Region 3,” Paulino said.

Olongapo recorded only 189 crimes from Jan. 1 to Aug. 19, and ranked eighth in Central Luzon, according to PNP records. – Bebot Sison Jr., Cecille Suerte Felipe