More persons nabbed in Baguio as crime lessens

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Police noted slight decrease in the volume of crimes against property from August (373 cases) to September (367 cases).

A considerable increase was also noted in number of arrested wanted persons and number of warrants served, number of persons arrested on anti-illegal drugs and traffic apprehensions and in the imposition of other laws on illegal peddling, urinating, smoking, littering, jaywalking, spitting and other resulting to increase in fines paid.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan cited efforts of the city police under Senior Supt. Jesus Cambay to curb crimes against property in the city expressing hope that the revitalized campaign will bear positive results soon.

            

Cambay last Wednesday reported on the crime volume in the city from August to September as well as on strategies being used by police force to neutralize the criminals in the city.

           

 When Cambay assumed as police chief recently, the mayor specifically asked him to prioritize the crimes against property particularly theft, robbery and hold-up cases which he said have shot up and reached the same level as crimes against persons.

He said the city police are now supported by GIS-based crime analysis instrumental to the easy identification of crime hotspots.

 To intensify crime prevention, they are now implementing the Police Integrated Patrol System with GIS-based deployment and are concentrating their forces at identified crime prone areas from 11:00 p.m.  to 4 a.m. with the implementation of Operations Sita and Kapkap and conduct of random checkpoints.

 Other strategies employed were identification or validation of target list and watch list of wanted criminals and the creation of tracker teams, strengthening of CIDMU Warrant Section, intensification of intelligence operations and institutionalization of case conferencing.

 They also enhanced task allocations among personnel, and intensifying the dissemination of crime prevention tips, distribution of emergency police contact numbers and engagement with “Quad-Media.”

           

 On community mobilization, the police are also harnessing the barangay tanod and residents volunteers groups through the clustering of the tanods, organization of “BINs” and implementation of IMPLAN “APRUB” and LOI “KAARUBA.