Provincial

CRIME RATE IN CENTRAL LUZON DROP BY 4.46% — PRO3

admin January 15, 2024

BY KEVIN GALANG

CAMP OLIVAS, City of San Fernando, Pampanga — Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. yesterday said he and his men are on top of the situation in maintaining peace and order in the region.

This as crime incidents in Central Luzon dropped by 4.46 percent or a decrease of 1,791 cases from 40,155 cases in 2022 to 38,364 in 2023.

Hidalgo attributed the decrease in crime incidents to the continuous implementation of enhanced managing police operations and the Interactive Engagement Policing (IEP) of the PRO3.

PRO3’s year-round campaign against most wanted and wanted persons yielded a total of 9,001 individuals sought by law of whom 1,303 are considered Most Wanted Persons and 7,698 other wanted persons.

Out of the 1,303 Most Wanted Persons, six are from the national level, 66 are from the regional level, 199 are from the different provincial and city levels, and 1032 are from the municipal and city level.

In the war against illegal drugs, PRO3 launched a total of 5,543 police operations which resulted in the arrest of 8,398 drug suspects and the seizure of 23.60 kilograms of shabu worth P160,539,513.25 and 64.25 kilograms of marijuana valued at P7,711,053.72, along with the confiscation of 194 assorted firearms and 12 explosives.

PRO3’s campaign against illegal gambling resulted in the arrest of 5,965 individuals and the confiscation of P3,922,794 bet money while in the relentless enforcement of other special laws, 57 operations against illegal logging were conducted that resulted in the arrest of 104 persons and recovery of illegal logs worth Ph2,526,304.88 and 21 operations on illegal fishing were carried out that resulted in the arrest of 355 individuals and the confiscation of illegal fishing paraphernalia worth P613,670.

In the campaign against loose firearms, unremitting efforts to account for loose firearms resulted in the confiscation and surrender of 712 assorted firearms and the arrest of 699 individuals.

Meanwhile, PRO3’s intensified Internal Security Operations (ISO) resulted in the arrest of 12 rebels, the surrender of 286 former and active communist terror group (CTG) member, and the recovery of 271 assorted firearms and 272 explosives, while 757 CTG supporters/sympathizers have already withdrawn their support.

The Central Luzon top cop commended the PRO3 personnel for their unwavering commitment to preserving peace and order in the region.

“These achievements are the outcomes of thorough coordination and collaboration with various government agencies, all made possible through the cooperation and backing of the entire community,” Hidalgo said.