ILOILO CITY–Western Visayas has reported a significant drop in crime rates in the first half of 2024, with an 11.68% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to police reports.
The region recorded 5,529 crimes this year, down from 6,250 in the same period in 2023.
P/Colonel Arnel Solis, spokesperson for PRO Western Visayas, highlighted that this reduction includes both index and non-index crimes, which form the Peace and Order Index. In the first half of 2024, Western Visayas recorded 1,095 index crimes, a decrease of 229 cases or 23.64% from 1,434 cases in the previous year.
Non-index crimes also saw a reduction, dropping by 8.22% from 4,826 cases in 2023 to 4,434 cases this year. The eight focus crimes—murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of motor vehicles, and carnapping of motorcycles—fell from 1,428 incidents in the first half of 2023 to 1,089 in 2024.
Brigadier General Jack Wanky, director of PRO Western Visayas, attributed the decrease in crime rates to the cooperation between the police, local government units, residents, and stakeholders in the community. “I thank everyone for their invaluable contributions resulting in the downward trend of crime incidents. The police cannot do it alone. We achieved this because of your support and contributions. It is our goal that this descending trend will continue,” Wanky stated.
