Balbalan Mayor Allen Jesse “Sonny” Mangaoang  said that this development   is attributed to the cooperation of officials and  the people  to maintain peace and order in their communities and the people’s respect to authorities and their law enforcers.

In his report during the first Kapehan sa Kapitolyo, KPPO Provincial Director Virgilio Laya said that except for Tabuk City with the most number of crime incident with 109 cases, most of the municipalities recorded few criminal incidents. Compared with the 69 crime volume in 2008, KPPO reported  that cases have increased to 129  in 2008  with a monthly rate of 3.32% per 100 population.

Out of the 129 crime volume, 80 were identified as index crimes and 49 are no0n-index crimes. 85 were considered solved, 20 were cleared with the other 24 still pending.

As measures to prevent criminality in the province especially in the capital town,Laya said that the KPPO has utilized the Barangay Tanods in augmenting the police forces and has enhanced the participation of the Highway Robbery Task Force to monitor the entry points to Tabuk City. Assistance was also provided to travelers coming in and going out of the province.

On its campaign against illegal drugs, with  marijuana still  the leading illegal substance in the province, the police in partnership with concerned agencies, conducted five eradication operations that involved uprooting of seedlings and grown-up plants. They were also able to confiscate at least 205.1 kilos of dried marijuana blocks.    

For its campaign against loose firearms, Laya said that the KPPO made33 arrest confiscating at least 67 assorted firearms.  In support to Executive Order 817 or gun amnesty, KPPO he said has recorded 375 issuance of gun registration.

The four operations against illegal logging  resulted to the confiscation of 6,903.61 board feet of lumber. PNP’s campaign against cattle rustling has likewise led to the recovery of nine carabao’s  also of which he said are now returned to their rightful owners.

Laya said that “peace and order situation in the Kalinga is still under manageable condition” but predicted that “crime against property is expected to rise due to nationwide economic crisis and the forthcoming summer season.” **ggdumallig/PIA-Kalinga