Police authorities step up anti-criminality campaign

With 71 days more to go before the start of the 12th Asean Summit, the drive against criminality around the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu-the summit venues-has been intensified according to Police Regional Office-7 director Silverio Alarcio Jr.

Alarcio said the Task Force Cebu has already started its anti-criminality mode to improve the situation in these summit areas, and reverse public perception that crime rates have increased in these places.

At least 1400 police recruits from other regions have been sent to Cebu as augmentation force to help local authorities secure the summit and maintain law and order but the recent spate of robberies has somehow put the situation in question.

A few weeks back in Cebu City, a college student was robbed of her cellphone and shot dead inside a jeepney, then in Mandaue City a bank manager was gunned down and robbed while changing the flat tire of his car by the roadside.

Despite these cases and the notion of worsening crime, however, Alarcio said the latest crime statistics showed a different picture.

He said the index crime rate in Cebu had dropped by 20 percent, in Lapu-Lapu by 40 percent, and in Mandaue City by 13 percent.

Index crimes are those committed against people and properties. Police authorities usually deem a low index crime rate as a measure of successful crime prevention.

The police have been working to show to the public that law and order in these summit areas have improved and that the thousands of delegates and visitors to the international event are secured, Alarcio said.

He said the perception of worsening crime situation should be changed before the Summit takes place because this will serve as gauge whether the police have the capability to contain crimes.

The police is capable of handling the situation and improve the past week's scenario, Alarcio declared but added that the community should participate and help authorities in the anti-criminality drive. - Gregg M. Rubio/RAE