PNP names 10 most crime-prone barangays in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) named 10 barangays (villages) in Quezon City that had the most number of crimes in a span of 40 days, based on police blotters from April 25 to June 3.

Barangay Socorro in Cubao recorded a total of 29 cases of crime, making it the most crime-prone barangay during this 40-day period, said the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

Here is the QCPD’s list of 10 most crime-prone barangays from April 25 to June 3, with the corresponding number of crimes recorded:

1. Socorro – 29
2. Bagong Pag-asa – 20
3. Batasan Hills – 18
4. Holy Spirit – 18
5. Greater Lagro – 17
6. Fairview – 13
7. Pinyahan – 12
8. E. Rodriguez – 11
9. Payatas – 11
10. South Triangle – 11

Here is the list of the top crimes committed within this period, with the corresponding number of cases:

• theft – 208 
• robbery – 94 
• physical injury – 82 
• motorcycle theft – 20
• murder – 19
• carnapping (4-wheeled) – 10
• rape – 6
• homicide – 4

Police noted most of the crimes were committed between 7 and 11 pm.

Heavy foot traffic

Barangay Socorro Chairperson Jose de Guzman admitted that the crime problem is not new. He stressed that heavy foot traffic is the primary reason why their area is crime-prone.

“Cubao is too vibrant in a sense na andito lahat. Transportation hub, dalawang train na nagko-cross, diyan bumababa lahat (Cubao is too vibrant in the sense that everything is here. Transportation hub, the two trains crossing over, they all disembark there),” he told reporters in an interview on June 7. 

Barangay Socorro covers Araneta Center, Farmer’s Market, MRT Cubao, and LRT Cubao, among others.

QCPD head Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel already ordered the station commanders to intensify the police patrols in the classified places. He also urged barangay officials and businessmen to buy closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

“Malaking tulong ang mga kuha ng CCTVs sa pagtukoy ng mga suspek sa isang krimen kaya mahalaga na malagyan ang mga crime-prone areas ng mga ito (CCTVs are a big help in identifying suspects of crimes so it’s important that they are installed in crime-prone areas),” he said.

While the patrol system was a viable solution to the issue, De Guzman said working on anti-crime operations, such as a barangay-to-barangay clean up drive, is a more efficient way to handle it.

“Dapat talaga i-identify ang mga taong involved doon sa mga trabahong ganyan para ma-clear-up yung mga barangay (The people involved in criminal activities should really be identified in order to clear up the barangay),” De Guzman said.  – Rappler.com

Jane Bautista is a Rappler intern. He studies journalism at the University of the Philippines Diliman.