The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) disclosed that crimes in the city during the first quarter of this year dropped by some 58.76 percent compared to the crimes that were recorded in the city during the same period last year.
BCPO Outgoing City Director Police Col. Allen Rae F. Co reported that there were some 254 crimes that were recorded by the local police force during the first quarter of this year compared to the 616 crimes documented during the same period of last year or a decrease of some 362 incidents.
Further, he claimed that incidents of physical injuries also decreased by 76.47 percent, rape incidents dropped by 66.67 percent, murder declined by 100 percent, homicide incidents was reduced by 50 percent and carnapping or theft of motorcycles also dropped by 50 percent.
The police official stated that vehicular traffic accidents significantly decreased by a whopping 71.46 percent or 107 incidents during the first quarter of this year compared to the 375 incidents during the same period last year.
He attributed such accomplishment with the untiring efforts of the men and women in uniform, together with the utmost cooperation of the community and the continuous innovations on traffic schemes as well as measures being implemented and strategic plans and programs initiated by the local government.
According to him, along with the enforcement of pertinent laws, rules and regulations is the strict implementation of minimum health protocols to ensure that the overall goal of the government to break the transmission of the dreaded Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be attained.
Co stipulated that the BCPO Social Distancing Disc painted along the streets, public markets, malls and offices showcased the discipline that the city community has and it likewise signifies the willingness of the people to work together and achieve the goal of significantly reducing the spread of the virus in the different parts of the city.
He narrated that it has already been more than a year since the onslaught of the ongoing pandemic, it has been a year since people were able to rediscover their resilience, their capabilities, their big hearts willing to communicate, collaborate and have the commitment to work as one against the unseen enemy.
The BCPO officer admitted that a lot has changed, the economy, livelihood, culture, education, relationships, beliefs, all of the same changed and even law enforcement experienced strange scenarios that law enforcers never experienced before.
Moreover, he revealed that the BCPO encountered unprecedented challenges but law enforcers were able to also respond with unpresented actions to keep themselves, their offices and the community safe amidst the emerging threat of the life-threatening virus.
Co asserted that the implementation of the series of lockdowns posed great challenges on frontline police officers because of their capacity constraints and the reactions of the community on the adjustment on mobility unlike in the previous situation and that the implementation of physical distancing breaches social norms and competes with the needs and livelihood of the people. By Dexter A. See
