Most crime-prone area: Cebu City tops list of crimes in region

Cebu City is number 1 in Central Visayas. But, this time, it is not something that the city can be proud of.

The city has topped the list of the Philippine National Police in the region as the most crime-prone area under its jurisdiction. This was disclosed yesterday in a report presented by the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 during the regular meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) chaired by Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia.

Police/Sr. Supt. Lani-o Nerez, deputy director for administration of the PRO-7 reported that from January 1 up to October 31, a total of 7,500 crimes were reported in Central Visayas compared to 5,904 cases in 2004 and 5,596 cases in 2003.

Nerez reported that theft tops the list of crimes in the region at 44 percent followed by physical injuries at 32 percent, robbery is 16 percent, murder 7 percent, rape 3 percent, and homicide 2 percent.

According to Nerez, Cebu City accounts for 44 percent of the total crimes committed in the region followed by Cebu province at 28.5 percent, Bohol 12.7 percent, Negros Oriental 7.8 percent, followed by Mandaue City 6.3 percent, and Siquijor has the least at 0.29 percent.

Cebu City councilor Procopio Fernandez, chairman of the committee on police, asked the police for an explanation and reaction on the series of killings that have happened here.

Fernandez is worried that these crimes would affect the city's economic development and drive away investors.

Acting Cebu City Police chief Melvin Gayotin said that it is the media, which released the report branding Cebu as a 'murder city' and not the PNP.

Gayotin admitted that they failed to arrest those responsible of the series of killings here because of the failure of the relatives of the victims to cooperate with the authorities.

He said that they have only filed four cases before the city prosecutor's office against those involved in the vigilante-type killings. As of yesterday, the count of the victims has been put at 103.

Some members of the RPOC said that the series of killings in Cebu City did not affect the city economic development especially tourism because mostly of those killed were criminals.

Garcia, on the other hand, said the police should look for other means to get more information on the death of the victims and not only depend on the relatives for the filing of cases.

Appeal To The Media

The officials present also aired their appeal to the media to downplay the reporting of the killings fearing that this might have adverse effects.

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano said the series of killings in Cebu City may affect Cebu's image especially in attracting foreign investors saying that everyday there are reports of killings.

Department of Trade and Industry regional director Asteria Caberte asked media to be more cautious on making reports identifying some sectors as possible targets of terrorists.

In yesterday's RPOC meeting, the police released a list of possible terrorist targets, which are mostly tourism-related establishments.

Police Performance

Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said that he is not satisfied as to the performance of the Cebu City Police Office on the way they are trying to solve the vigilante-type killings here.

But despite of this dissatisfaction, the mayor has no plans of changing the CCPO leadership contrary to an earlier statement made by city councilor Procopio Fernandez.

The mayor said going after these vigilantes is not his priority as there are other aspects of the city's peace and order that need immediate attention and other pressing concerns of the city.

Osmeña said that there is a lot of pressure on him to stop this the vigilante killings to a point that it seems these people are trying to protect the criminals.