LINGAYEN–The Philippine National Police (PNP) in the province is short of 3,434 men based on the ideal police-population ratio of 1:500.

The provincial office currently lists 1,891 officers only and 115 new recruits are being processed.

Notwithstanding the wide gap, the crime situation in the province is generally deemed stable and within a manageable level, according to a report presented by Sr. Supt Isagani Nerez, police provincial director to Governor Amado Espino Jr.

The report covering the January to June 2007 period shows the total crime volume is 1,081, which is slightly higher than the 1,059 incidents recorded during the same period last year.

The index crime, like murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, robbery and theft totaled 449 during the period in review compared to last year’s 463.

Crimes against persons, particularly physical injuries, had the highest frequency of occurrence followed by theft and murder.

On non-index crime recorded, there was a total of 623 or an increase of 27 incidents.

Crime solution efficiency was rated at 91 percent which is higher by five percent from last year’s comparative data.

The average monthly crime rate is at 7.2 incidents per 100,000 population which is 0.20 incident higher compared to last year’s record.

For the period covered, the Pangasinan Police Office conducted 25 combat operations which included an encounter with a group of 30 heavily-armed members of a communist group on May 15 in Barangay Calomboyan, Mangatarem that led to the recovery of an Elisco M-16 armalite rifle, several magazines and ammunitions for the said firearm, one grenade launcher and assorted subversive documents.

On June 5, an encounter with 30 fully armed communist terrorists/New People’s Army in Mabini resulted in the recovery of one unit upper receiver part of M16 rifle, empty shells of M16, M14 and caliber 60, one shell of rifle grenade, two pieces of bolo, among others.

Continuous police operations also led to the neutralization of 40 personalities tagged for robbery hold up, gun-for-hire, cattle rustling, carnapping and drug pushing.

Seventy- eight operations also led to the arrest of 83 persons and confiscation of several items with 41 cases filed in court on the campaign against illegal gambling.

On the campaign against loose firearms, the police reported 93 positive operations  resulting in the arrest of 87 persons and confiscation of 45 high- powered, 49 low powered, 19 homemade firearms as well as one hand grenade, three rifle grenades, three vintage bombs and three fragmentation grenades with 78 cases filed in court.

On carnapping cases, 21 operations were conducted resulting in the arrest of three persons and the recovery of assorted vehicles with three cases filed in court.

The twenty-one operations against cattle rustling led to the recovery of 38 cows and eight carabaos while the campaign against illegal fishing led to the arrest of 125 persons and confiscation of 789 kilograms of assorted fishes and 24 motorized bancas with 34 cases filed in court, all from 37 operations.

Eleven persons were also arrested and 18 cases filed in court after the police recovered a total of 2,455.06 board feet of assorted illegally cut logs and 864 sacks of charcoal. –EVA

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments