The Police Regional Office (PRO) in Western Visayas is on heightened alert, beefing up security measures to counter an expected rise in crime as the ‘-ber’ months begin, leading up to the holiday season.
PRO Western Visayas director Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky assured the public that police units are fully prepared, with intensified deployments ready to respond to any incidents as the Christmas season kicks off.
The “Ber” months—September, October, November, and December—mark the start of the festive season for Filipinos but are also a period of increased criminal activity, law enforcement authorities observed.
This surge in crime is linked to various factors associated with the holiday season, including heightened economic activity as more people flock to malls for shopping and engage in commercial transactions, creating opportunities for crimes like theft, pickpocketing, and scams.
Police are particularly vigilant around shopping malls, markets, and other crowded areas where these crimes often occur. Wanky emphasized the need to maintain peace and order during the holiday season.
“We will intensify our deployments further, enhance our intelligence monitoring, and focus our resources on crime-prone areas,” he said.
Wanky also stressed the importance of concentrating police efforts in areas with historically high crime rates. He noted that many reported crimes have recently occurred in shopping malls.
PRO Western Visayas plans to collaborate with security agencies to formulate strategies aimed at curbing shoplifting and other crimes, ensuring a safer holiday season for everyone.
