The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 in Central Visayas is celebrating a significant and historic achievement: a major reduction in crime across the region for the year 2025. Official data reveals a sharp decline in criminal incidents, marking a safer period for residents of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
A Dramatic Drop in Focus Crimes
According to the year-end report from PRO 7, the total volume of the eight focus crimes plummeted by 28.18 percent compared to the figures from 2024. This impressive statistic translates to 942 fewer criminal incidents happening in Central Visayas throughout the past year.
The breakdown of the data shows substantial decreases across almost all major crime categories:
- Theft saw the largest numerical drop, decreasing by 420 cases (32.14%).
- Robbery incidents fell by 152, a reduction of 41.53%.
- Cases of Physical Injury went down by 174 (22.08%).
- Rape cases decreased by 122 incidents, representing a 23.55% improvement.
- Murder dropped to 46 incidents, a 20.63% decrease from the 223 recorded in 2024.
- Motorcycle Carnapping fell by 31.40%.
- Motor Vehicle Carnapping recorded the highest percentage drop at 57.14%.
The only crime category that registered a slight increase was Homicide, which recorded 49 incidents, up from 41 in 2024.
The Winning Formula for Safety
Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan, the chief of PRO 7, attributed this remarkable success to what he called an effective operational formula. He emphasized that this strategy is multi-faceted and community-oriented.
The key pillars of this approach include intelligence-driven police operations, heightened police visibility in communities, seamless coordination with other government agencies, and the strengthening of trust and relationships with the public. General Maranan highlighted that community cooperation has been instrumental in preventing crimes and solving cases.
National Recognition and Festival Preparedness
Due to this outstanding performance, the PRO 7 has been recognized by the national headquarters at Camp Crame as the region with the highest reduction in crime volume in the entire Philippines for 2025. The achievements of Central Visayas police contributed significantly to the nationwide crime picture, accounting for a 12.4 percent reduction in the country's overall crime rate.
With the upcoming Fiesta Señor and the grand Sinulog Festival, General Maranan assured the public that security measures are being intensified. Police deployment on the streets will be maximized to ensure that the low crime rate is maintained during these major cultural and religious gatherings. The goal is to provide a safe and secure environment for all devotees, tourists, and residents participating in the festivities.
