Public urged to be more involved in fighting crimes

AS POLICE celebrate Crime Prevention month this September, Cebu’s top police officials urge the public to adopt the “bayanihan spirit” to help solve crimes.

Vigilance, security consciousness and community involvement are among the major factors in solving crimes, said Chief Supt. Ager Ontog, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas.

The creation of the Barangay Intelligence Network, Barangay Peace-Keeping Action Team and the Barangay Public Safety Officers is one way of drawing volunteers from the public to get involved in crime prevention, said officials.

“We should help each other by giving information to the PNP that would help solve a case,” Ontog said in a press conference last Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said if the crime rate in Cebu drops to 80 percent within a month, it means there is cooperation between the community and the police.

Police said the the average monthly crime rate of Central Visayas dropped by 9.66 percent with 26.97 percent recorded this year compared to last year’s 36.63 percent. CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON