Pubdate: Sat, 08 Jan 2005
Source: Sunstar Bacolod (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005sSunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1718
Author: Claudine C. Dumalag

NEGOCC CRIME VOLUME DOWN

THE Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) recorded a 5.32 
percent decrease in the total crime volume last year compared to year 2003.

Senior Supt. Mark Edison Belarma, police acting director, said last year's 
total crime volume reached 1,014 cases with 606 index crimes and 408 
non-index crimes.

The figure is lower than the previous year's 1,071 cases with 610 index and 
461 non-index crimes.

Records from Noppo's Operations Branch revealed Noppo personnel conducted 
98 operations, arrested 138 individuals and confiscated illegal drugs with 
market value of close to P800,000 last year.

Agents of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) 
cleared 185 barangays or 92.04 percent of the 201 drug affected villages in 
the province.

AIDSOTF operatives neutralized 137 of the 153 drug personalities included 
in their watchlist, while Noppo neutralized five drug gangs operating in 
the province including Mindanao-based pushers.

They also conducted 150 operations against illegal gambling, arrested 259 
suspects and recovered several gambling paraphernalia and cash amounting to 
P67,786.

They filed 148 cases in court.

In the campaign against illegal possession of firearms, the provincial 
police confiscated eight fragmentation grenades, 119 low-powered firearms 
and 10 high-powered firearms.

One hundred forty individuals were arrested while 112 cases were filed.

On illegal logging, Noppo conducted 25 operations resulting to the 
apprehension of 35 persons and the recovery of 36,946.64 board feet of hot 
logs, 1,500 board feet of coconut lumber and 2,273 sacks of charcoal with 
an estimated value of more than P1.2 million.

A total of 634 wanted persons were also arrested and accounted for 
including the five who voluntarily surrendered and the arrest last Feb. 29 
of robbery and frustrated homicide suspect Conrado Paala with a P300,000 
bounty.

Belarma said this year, they will focus on the campaign against illegal drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Beth