Oplan Doble launched in Baguio City

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet — Alarmed by the rising incidence of crime in Baguio City and La Trinidad, the Police Regional Office of the Cordillera Administrative Region (PROCAR) has launced "Oplan Doble" to address rising criminality in these two premier tourists areas here.

Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano, who took over as Regional Director here last month, said that robberies, killings and other crimes are proliferating in the business centers.

Local and police officials in Baguio, however, have reportedly denied that crime in the city is rising although PROCAR data clearly supports it.

Albano has been conducting visits to police stations and precincts in Baguio to boost the morale of his men and to personally assess the peace and order situation in the city.

In a survey conducted by the PNP in Camp Crame, PROCAR ranked lowest among the 14 PNP regional commands nationwide in terms of "public perception on police service."

Albano, however, stressed that the general perception of the public does not reflect the overall performance of the entire PNP in the Cordillera region.

Reports showed that from January to October, there were 417 crimes committed in Baguio and La Trinidad — 145 were crimes committed against persons and 274 were crimes committed against property.

But some local newsmen based here have expressed optimism that since Albano seems to be hardworking, disciplined and dedicated, the crime rate would hopefully be brought down and negative image of the PNP improved gradually.