Ilocos Norte crime rate down by 30%

Through the joint efforts of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO), and the Ilocano community, the crime rate in the province has fallen by 30% from 2016 to this present period of 2017, police officials reported.

Police Senior Superintendent Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr., provincial director, said the crime rate in Ilocos Norte had also decreased from 2015 to 2016.

He said with 1,500 reported index crimes in 2015, the figure dipped to 600 at the end of 2016, indicating a 60% drop.

These were attributed to the good performance of our policemen and through this we’ve become more worthy of good graphical records on crime prevention, said Nartatez.

He also disputed claims that police personnel have been involved in the alleged extrajudicial killings throughout the country saying “we value human rights more than ourselves or anybody else.”

Nartatez lauded how Governor Imee R. Marcos and PGIN “have been very supportive and proactive in ensuring peace and order in Ilocos Norte.”

According to Governor Marcos, “Peace and order are the first requisite of development.”

She said, “Maraming-maraming salamat mula sa aming lahat, mga public servant at opisyal ng Ilocos Norte at lahat ng taumbayang umaasa sa tapang, talino, at husay ng ating kapulisan!”

Governor Marcos had been recognized last year by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as the country’s most outstanding governor, for her efforts against illegal drugs.

For the year 2017, INPPO vowed to continue its anti-crim campaign on illegal drugs, loose firearms and other forms of lawlessness.” (Mizpah Grace G. Castro, PGIN-CMO)