SAMAR POLICE PROVINCIAL OFFICE

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

                 Prior to the coming of the Spaniards in 1596, Samar was then known by various names as Samal, Ibabao, Achan and Tandaya.  It was derived from the local dialect “Samad”, meaning wound or cut, which aptly describes the rough and rugged physical features of the Island. The province has a total Land Area of 5,591 Sq Kms with 506,985 hectares of agricultural and forestal land and a total road network of 360,406 kilometers.  Its is bounded on the north by Northern Samar; Eastern Samar on the east; Leyte gulf on the south, and the Samar Sea and Biliran province on the west.  It composed of 24 municipalities, two (2) city, 952 barangays, 32 Islets and 220 kilometers coastline.  It has a total population of 641,124 inhabitants with 228,153 registered voters. The people living in Samar are composed of the Waray-waray group, Cebuano, Tagalog, Boholano, Ilocano and several residents coming from the foreign soil.  The main sources of livelihood are farming, fishing and mining industry.

            Samar is divided into two (2) political districts.  The first district is composed of one (1) city, three (3) island towns, four (4) coastal municipalities, and the lone hinterland municipality, while the second district covers one (1) city, two (2) island towns, thirteen (12) coastal municipalities, and one (1) hinterland municipality, respectively.  Samar province has its own share of nature’s bounty.  Among the nature’s jewels are enchantingly unexplored mountains and caves which are inhabited by exotic wildlife, pristine shores rimmed by unspoiled coral reef, cloud-hidden lakes of blue surrounded by multi-colored flowers and beautiful beaches and waterfalls nestled besides a mountain.  The most famous among the beautiful spots mentioned are the following:

            Sohoton National Park, Sohoton National Bridge, Panhulugan Cave l, Panhulugan Cave II, Sohoton Cave, Panhulugan Cliff, Bugasan and Kapigtan Caves all in Rawis, Brgy Guirang, Basey town;  Lologayan Falls, Malajog Beach, all in Tinambacan District, Calbayog City; Guinogo-an Cave, Tinago-an Cave, Mawacat Slide, Pan-as Falls, Ton-ok Falls, Mapaso Hot Spring, all in Oquendo District, Calbayog City; Guimit Cave in Brgy Mallorga, Talalora; Langun-Gubingub Cave, Lulugayan Falls and Rapids in Calbiga; and the world-famous San Juanico Bridge, linking the provinces of Samar and Leyte.

COMMAND STRUCTURE:

            The Samar PPO is stationed at Camp Vicente Lukban in Brgy Maulong, Catbalogan, Samar having both Administrative and Operational control over the 24 Municipal Police Stations, 2 City Police Station and the two (2) PPMG’s: The 809th PPMG based at Brgy Palanas Cara, Oquendo District, Calbayog City and the 810th PPMG stationed at Brgy Canticum, Calbiga, Samar. The operational jurisdiction of the PPMGs covered the nine (9) municipalities one (1) city in the 1st Congressional District of Samar and the 15 municipalities one (1) city situated in the 2nd Congressional District of Samar, respectively.

SITUATION UPDATE:

              Despite the increase of crime volume by 87, there has been a stable peace and order condition in the Samar province. The effective crime prevention and suppression strategy initiated by the police forces in the field through sustained police visibility and detective beat patrols in crime prone areas somehow contributed much in our campaign against all forms of criminality. Significantly, the increase of crime volume was the result of series of apprehension of law violators.

Criminality:

                        During the period in review, the Provincial Crime Volume registered a total of 486 cases, reflecting an increase of 87 crime incidents compared to the same period of last year, which posted 399. Of this figure, 292 were index crimes while 194 were non-index crimes, respectively.

                        The Average Monthly Crime Rate (AMCR) for the period posted at 6.3 crime incidence per 100T population, indicating an increase of 1.2 based on the same period of last year record of 5.1

                        The Provincial Average Monthly Index Crime Rate (AMICR) for the period is pegged at 3.7 crime incidence per 100T population reflecting an increase of 0.8 from the same period of last year record of 2.9.

                        On crimes against persons, Murder registered the most prevalent at 94; Physical Injury-89; Homicide-54; Rape 21; Act of Lasciviousness-5; Viol of RA 9208-1; Abduction-2; Arson-1 Grave Threats-2; and Piracy-1.

                        On crimes against property, Robbery recorded at 16, while theft registered at-6.

                        For the periods, Samar PPO posted a record of 86.41% Crime Solution Efficiency (CSE) for the period.  This translates to four hundred twenty (420) cases solved, while sixty-six (66) remaining cases is still under investigation.