The number of crime incidents in Western Visayas went down in the first eight months of 2023, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO-6).

PRO-6 logged a total of 1,738 index crimes from January 1 to August 31 this year. The figure was 15.67 percent lower compared to 2,061 cases recorded in the same period a year ago.

The decrease was attributed mainly by the PRO-6 to its strengthened community engagement and Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO).

Index crimes, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), refer to crimes that are serious in nature that occur with sufficient frequency and regularity to the extent that they can serve as an indication of the crime situation.

Among those considered index crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury, car theft, robbery, and rape.IMT