Naga City in Camarines Sur posted the highest average monthly crime rate among the country’s 36 largest cities in the first half of the year, Philippine National Police data released Friday showed.
In a statement, PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr., however, said that “based on the latest PNP data, among the major cities of the country outside of Metro Manila, Naga City is ranked No. 6 in the total crime volume during the period from January to July 2018.”
Also based on PNP data, Durana said Naga ranked No. 2 in terms of incidence of the so-called “index crime” volume (crimes against person and property) compared to the other six provinces of the Bicol region.
Bicol region consists of the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.
Index crimes under police methodologies are murder, homicide, physical injuries, car theft, cattle rustling, theft, robbery, and rape.
“During the same period (January to July), Naga City also posted the highest average monthly crime rate, followed by Mandaue City, Iloilo City, Santiago City, and Cebu City,” Durana said.
Naga City has a population of about 200,000, roughly the same as Manila’s Sampaloc district.
According to data released by the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management Crime Research Analysis Center, Naga City had 202.80 average monthly crime rate from January to July 2018, the highest among the 36 cities in the PNP report.
In the top 10, aside from Naga City for the highest AMCR, were Mandaue City (169.49), Pasay City (141.84), Iloilo City (139.24), Makati City (130.74), Mandaluyong City (122.67), San Juan City (109.16), Marikina City (104.51), Quezon City (103.54), and Santiago City (96.56).
On the other hand, the 10 cities on the list with the lowest AMCR were Bacolod City (40.77), Butuan City (40.14), Caloocan City (33.38), Iligan City (29.58), Olongapo City (27.61), Angeles City (27.10).
Davao City (25.96), Puerto Princesa City (25.22), Cotabato City (18.44), and Ormoc City (16.24).
In terms of Total Crime Volume (TCV), two cities from the National Capital Region topped the list with Quezon City at 22,019 and Manila at 12,424, followed by Cebu (6,324), Makati (5,517), Pasig (4,967), Taguig (4,541).
The five cities with the lowest TCV for the same period were Iligan City (734), Olongapo City (466), Puerto Princesa (466), Cotabato (400), and Ormoc City (253).
In terms of crime solution efficiency, or (CSE), Taguig City had the highest mark out of the 36 cities on the list with 95.46 percent.
It was followed by Pasig City, 92.89 percent; Makati City, 92.02 percent; Cebu City, 90.59 percent; and San Juan City, 90.48 percent.
Under the PNP DIDM rules, a case is considered solved when an offender has been identified, has been taken into custody, and there is sufficient evidence to charge him with a crime.
The case is also considered solved when elements beyond police control prevent the arrest of the offender, as when the victim refuses to prosecute after the offender is identified or when the offender dies or absconds.
The arrest of one offender can solve several crimes or several offenders may be arrested in solving one crime.
In terms of case clearance efficiency, the highest mark went to Marikina City (98.68 percent), Taguig City (97.60 percent), Pasig City (96.46 percent), Makati City (96.37 percent), Mandaluyong City (96.30 percent), Cebu City (95.41 percent), Ormoc City (95.26 percent), Davao
City (93.93 percent), San Juan City (93.48 percent), and Las Piñas (91.93 percent).