BACOLOR, Pampanga, March 19 (PNA) — The Police Regional Office-3 (PRO-3) said that based on the assessment of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Pampanga is the most peaceful province in Central Luzon.
This report was made during the 1st Quarterly Full Council Meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) presided by Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali, chairperson of RPOC together with Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, PRO 3 officer-in-charge Police Supt. Ronald Santos and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Florida Dijan held on Thursday at Promenade King’s Royale, this town.
It can also be noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared that Pampanga is now insurgency free and ready for further development.
The PRO-3 reported that on the comparative average monthly crime rate (AMCR) per province and city showed that Pampanga recorded the lowest AMCR with 42.12, followed by Zambales with 72.49, Nueva Ecija with 72.78, Tarlac with 72.86, Bulacan with 78.24, Bataan with 82.69, Aurora with 115.85, Olongapo City with 134.25 and Angeles City with 276.79.
Based on report of the PRO 3, the average monthly crime rate in the region is pegged at 76.49 incidents, which is lower compared to 77.7 incidents in year 2013.
In 2014, PRO-3 recorded a total crime volume of 100,033 crime incidents in the region as compared to 98,478 for the same period last 2013, reflecting a significant increase of 1,555 incidents or 1.57 percent.
Reports have it that the significant increase in crime volume could be attributed to the system of gathering crime statistics, which include crimes reported to the barangays and other law enforcement agencies.
Bulacan recorded the highest crime volume with 29,051 or 29.04 percent followed by Nueva Ecija with 18,070 or 18.06 percent, Tarlac with 11,763 or 11.75 percent, Angeles City 11,469 or 11.146 percent, Pampanga 10,771 or 10.76 percent, Bataan with 7218 or 7.21 percent, Zambales with 4,919 or 4.91 percent, Olongapo with 3,812 or 3.81 percent and Aurora with 2,960 or 2.95 percent crime incidents.
Out of the 100,033-crime volume during the period, index crime recorded 45,698, which is higher by 2,611 or 6 percent compared to the tally of 43,087 of the year 2013.Reports also have it that non-index crime reflected a record of 54,335 incidents, which is lower by 1,056 or 1.9 percent of the tally in 2013, which is 55,391.
The index crime distribution for the period 2014 showed that physical injuries is the most prevalent incident with a total of 24,340 followed by theft with 12,088, robbery with 4,451, carnapping with 1,921, rape with 1,112, homicide with 871, murder with 810 and cattle rustling with 105 recorded incidents.
It can be noted that all index crime in 2014 has significantly increased compared to 2013.
Meanwhile, others who attended the RPOC meeting were Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino, Mayor Maria Angela S. Garcia, LMP president in Bataan, Mayor Oscar Tetangco Jr, LMP president in Pampanga and regional directors and representatives of the member line agencies of the government. (PNA)