TACLOBAN CITY – The Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) has reported a significant decline in focus crimes in the province, with a 48% decrease recorded in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
During the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting led by Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla, LPPO officials presented data showing that the number of focus crimes dropped from 107 cases in the first quarter of 2024 to 56 in the same period this year.
The monitored crimes include theft, rape, murder, homicide, robbery, physical injury, carnapping, and motornapping.
Among the eight focus crimes, physical injury showed the most significant decline, plunging by 79.2%, from 24 cases last year to only five this year.
Other notable decreases include murder – down 56%, from 18 cases to 8; robbery – down 50%, from 14 cases to 7; rape – down 48%, from 23 cases to 12; and theft, down 26.3%, from 19 cases to 14.
Meanwhile, cases of carnapping remained at three, and motornapping stayed at zero. Homicide, however, saw a slight increase, rising from six cases in Q1 2024 to seven this year.
According to the LPPO, the decline in crime rates reflects the positive impact of strategic interventions, including enhanced surveillance, intensified checkpoints, and stronger coordination with judicial authorities.
“The Leyte PPO is committed to sustaining these gains through expanded CCTV coverage, increased crime prevention awareness, deployment of additional security measures, and streamlined case resolution in collaboration with prosecutors,” the LPPO stated.
The provincial police vowed to continue strengthening law enforcement initiatives to maintain peace and order in Leyte.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
