CAMIGUIN (PIA)– “Gi-present ang crime situation sa Philippines og nikanaog ni except ang kawat. Nisaka ang theft cases, tanan regions nisaka. Mao na ang batanyan ang kawat [The crime situation in the Philippines was presented, and it went down except for the theft. Theft cases increased in all regions. That is the basis of the theft],” Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo said.
During the Joint Meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF COVID-19), Provincial Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF ELCAC), Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC), Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence against Women and Their Children (LCAT-VAWC), and Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC), December 12, Romualdo shared insights from the recent National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) meeting.
He urged residents to stay vigilant and assist in implementing effective strategies, especially through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), which will guide families in addressing the root causes of common crimes related to family issues.
The Philippine National Police (PNP)-Camiguin Provincial Office reported 27 recorded crimes from October to December 6, 2023, compared to 18 during the same period in 2022. Focus crimes included murder (1), physical injury (1), rape (2), and robbery (1). Two crimes were solved and four were cleared during the quarter.
The PNP also highlighted concerns about firearms with expired licenses, encouraging residents of the province and establishments to renew licenses. With this, Romualdo announced plans for a caravan next year to register weapons on the island. He urged barangay officials to collaborate with the PNP in inventorying weapons.
Also, for speedy management of crimes, the PNP urged establishments to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras for enhanced monitoring. Noting this, Romualdo then called on businesses to share CCTV footage with authorities, especially when it will be used during investigations. The governor also emphasized the need for local government units to ensure the quality of CCTV installations mandated by local ordinances.
Moreover, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Camiguin is actively working towards enhancing safety measures, including processing 35 business permits and conducting 832 inspections to mitigate fire risks. Plans for the activation of the Guinsiliban Fire Station and the establishment of a special rescue unit for emergency operations and medical response were also discussed.
The provincial government remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents through collaborative efforts and proactive measures in various aspects of public safety. (RTP/PIA-10/Camiguin)
Maintaining order and fostering peace in Camiguin, the provincial government, along with various government agencies, held the fourth quarter joint meeting of key councils on December 12, 2023, where Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo shared insights from the recent National Peace and Order Council meeting, emphasizing a nationwide decrease in total crimes, except for theft. (RTP/PIA-10/Camiguin)
