CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The Philippine National Police-Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PNP-PPPO) has reported an 81.1 percent crime solution efficiency rate for 2024, reflecting progress in maintaining peace and order across the province.
During Thursday’s Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) meeting at the Sison Auditorium, Lieutenant Colonel Radino Belly, chief of the Police Operations Management Unit, shared that the figure represents 3,692 solved cases out of 4,553 recorded crimes from January 1 to December 15, 2024.
Belly added that of the 3,692 solved cases in Pangasinan, 376 were index crimes, 1,611 were non-index crimes, and 1,705 were vehicular traffic incidents.
Of these solved cases, 376 were index crimes, 1,611 were non-index crimes, and 1,705 involved vehicular traffic incidents.
“The crime solution efficiency rate reflects cases where warrants have been filed and suspects have been arrested,” Belly explained.
Belly noted that in cases where sufficient evidence was gathered but suspects remain at large, the efficiency rate reached 99.1 percent, which translates to 311 index crimes, 465 non-index crimes, and 44 vehicular incidents.
Trend in crime
Despite the overall progress, Belly noted a 9 percent increase in index crimes compared to the same period in 2023, rising from 650 to 707 cases. The increase was driven by crimes like physical injury (87 cases, up from 64), rape (274 cases, up from 255), robbery (60 cases, up from 53), carnapping (47 cases, up from 24), and special complex crimes (5 cases, up from 1).
On a positive note, murder cases decreased from 75 to 70, homicide fell from 21 to 17, and theft dropped from 153 to 146.
Belly said that homicide and rape emerged as the most prevalent crimes against persons during the period.
Anti-drugs campaign and community initiatives
For Barangay drug-clearing efforts, 1,197 barangays in the province have been declared drug-free out of 1,364. For the campaign against loose firearms, 769 firearms were seized through arrests, surrenders, and confiscations.
He added that the campaign targeting wanted persons resulted in the arrest of 2,193 individuals, including 180 of the most wanted individuals.
Further showcasing its proactive stance, the Pangasinan PPO conducted over 2,000 preventive patrols and rolled out 280 community awareness programs, reaching more than 9,000 residents.
“The province is generally peaceful, which is the result of good collaboration between the PNP and the provincial government, with the active participation of the community,” Belly said.
As Pangasinan enters 2025, the PNP vows to continue addressing crime trends and enhancing community-focused initiatives to ensure a secure future for the province. (CCMT/EMSA/CBC, PIA Pangasinan)
