Community help crucial in law enforcement work

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet -- The head of the Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) said effective law enforcement and suppression of crimes in the region are a result of the good relationship between the police and the community.

“Our law enforcement, the implementation of laws as well as the prevention of criminality and the suppression of criminals will not happen if there is no good communication between the police and the people,” said PROCOR chief, Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, on the sidelines of the closing program of the month-long Police Community Relations (PCR) celebration here Monday.

The PCR leads the programs of the Philippine National Police in developing communication and coordination with the community.

Based on PROCOR's latest report, the average monthly crime rate in the Cordillera region decreased by 18 percent, from last year's 36.11 percent to 29.66 percent this year for the April to May period.

The region recorded 1,057 crimes from April to May, lower by 18 percent compared to the same period 1,287 cases in 2018.

Non-index crimes, which make up the volume, recorded a decrease of 26 percent, from 1,113 in 2018 down to 827.

Baguio City and the provinces of Ifugao and Apayao recorded the highest decrease in crime volume. Baguio recorded 562 cases in 2018 down to 328 in 2019; Ifugao from 83 cases in 2018 to 49; while Apayao from 38 cases to 22 this year.

Abra province also recorded a 17 percent decrease, from 121 to 100 this year; and Mountain Province with 27 percent, from 49 to 36 cases this year.

Benguet and Kalinga, however, recorded a 16 percent and 8 percent increase, respectively.

Dickson said such decrease in crime volume and statistics and the increase in crime solution efficiency is the result of a good relationship between the police and the community.

He cited as example the many arrests and seizures of illegal drugs.

“It is not just the PNP officers who provide information but also the residents in a place because they do not want their place to be branded as a transshipment point of illegal drugs especially marijuana,” Dickson said.

Dickson said police were able to apprehend drug couriers and seize illegal drugs no matter how innovative the suspects could be, because informants provide leads to a successful anti-drugs operation.

“We are intensifying our police interventions, especially the conduct of checkpoints because it is there we are able to arrest suspects who attempt to transport drugs based on intelligence information coming from the community,” he said. (PNA)

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