Q1 sees crime drop by 51% in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY -- Crime rate in this city dropped by 51 percent during the first quarter of this year, police said.In a report during the Ugnayan sa Rehiyon Dose held at the city hall Thursday, local police officials led by Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio told visiting Police Regional Office 12 personnel that the city only recorded 90 index crimes from January to April this year.Index crimes were categorized as theft (27), robbery (27), physical injury (12), homicide (11), murder (9), and motorcycle theft (4). This year’s 90 index crimes are much lower compared to 169 offenses committed during the same period in 2017, Octavio said.Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, PRO-12 information office chief, expressed joy over the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO) report and indicated that the nightly Ronda patrol initiative led by City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani–Sayadi will serve as template for local government units in the region to emulate in their local law enforcement operations.The 300-strong city police force is currently being augmented by elements of the 5th Special Forces Battalion, and Joint Task Force Kutawato with personnel from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division headquarters situated in nearby Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.This developed as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) said that it is closely monitoring the activities of nine village officials, including one from this city, who are currently included in their drugs watchlist.Juvenal Azurin, PDEA-ARMM chief, said those in the watchlist include four barangay captains and five barangay council members. He did not elaborate.On Tuesday, members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – ARMM arrested a village councilor in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, for possession of an unlicensed firearm.Armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Bansawan Ibrahim, lawmen swooped down on the residence of Barangay Ampatuan Poblacion Councilor Mohammad Usman in the area and arrested him over an unlicensed 9mm - caliber pistol with 12 rounds of live ammunition.Usman was charged with violation of R.A. 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition) and R.A. 9516 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives). (PNA)