The New Year celebration in Western Visayas was generally peaceful, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO-6).

The region logged 923 crime incidents from December 16-31 last year, lower by 10.3 percent compared to 1,029 incidents in the same period in 2020.

Last year’s figure included 117 eight focus crimes, down from 2020’s 136 crimes.

The eight focus crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of motorcycles and carnapping of motor vehicles. These serve as the barometer of the peace and order situation.

On the other hand, the region registered zero stray bullet incidents and one was arrested for illegal discharge of firearm.

Police Brigadier Flynn E Dongbo, PRO-6 director, thanked and congratulated the residents of Barangay San Agustin in Iloilo City for the vigilance and timely reporting of a male person who discharged a firearm.

This resulted in the succesful arrest of the offender by the responding personnel of the City Police Station 1.

“Ito po ay nagpapakita na mas malaki ang ating magagawa kapag ang kumunidad at ang PNP ay nag tutulungan. At ako po’y nagpapasalamat sa kooperasyon ng lahat sa payapa at matiwasay na pag salubong natin sa bagong taon. Sana po patuloy nyong supportahan ang inyong kapulisan,” said Dongbo.

The director also thanked the force multipliers, barangay officials, local government units, and news organizations for their contribution in keeping the peace and order situation in the region.IMT