BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A total of 132 persons died in vehicular accidents in Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City, from January to November this year.
However, the number of fatalities through reckless imprudence resulting in homicide dropped by 11 incidents, compared to 141 in the same period last year, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) reported.
In the same period, NOCPPO also noted a big drop in cases of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries, from 640 in 2019 to 390 this year, or a reduction of 250 cases.
Cases of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries also dropped by 141 incidents, or 437 last year compared to 296 this year, the police added.
The Police Regional Office 6 also recorded 90 crimes committed by motorcycle-riding suspects. Of the 90 cases, 43 are murder, physical injuries – 20, robbery cases – 15, theft – 7, rape – 3, and motornapping – 2.
Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda, newly-installed regional police director, meanwhile, said he intends to strengthen the Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operating (MASCO) teams in the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo, by providing support and proper training for them to become more effective.
While PRO6 has MASCO teams deployed to respond to incidents involving suspects on motorcycles, other crimes, and even emergencies, Miranda said they must also be proactive in enforcing Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Law and all traffic ordinances of local government units, Miranda said. “This will deny the use of road-unworthy motor vehicles in committing crimes such as robbery, murder and other street crimes,” he added.*
