CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Amid President Rodrigo Duterte's intense program on peace and order, the crime rate in Pampanga rose by more than one percent during the first quarter of 2017, a police official said.
Pampanga Police Director Joel Consulta said during the Peace and Order Council meeting held at Kingsborough Convention Center on Wednesday that based on data from the Provincial Police Office, a total of 3,408 cases were recorded from January to early May of this year, 39 cases higher compared to the total 3,369 recorded on the same period last year.
Based on the records, murder cases were up by some 113 percent from 22 in 2016 to 47 this year, while robbery cases went up to 144 from the 137 cases in 2016. An additional six rape cases were also recorded from 55 in 2016 to 61 in 2017.
Cases of theft and physical injury, meanwhile, dropped down while homicide cases remained at five on the same two periods.
Of the total number cases, some 67 percent are already considered solved while the remaining 33 percent are still under investigation.
Consulta said that based on investigation, the usual nature why such crimes were committed are personal motives, love triangle situations, land disputes and illegal drug trades.
Despite the said rise in criminal cases, Consulta assured Kapampangans of their safety and security in the province as they are implementing their best efforts to fulfill their mandate.
He added that he already ordered his personnel to intensify police visibility and further hasten their response to crimes.
