Makati: Crime incidents in Eastern Visayas significantly declined following the intensified implementation of the Safer Cities Initiative (SCI), the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) reported on Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, data released by PRO-8 showed that the region's eight focus crimes dropped by 57.52 percent from May 7 to 20, 2026, compared to previous monitoring periods. The initiative, launched on April 6, aims to strengthen police visibility, law enforcement operations, and coordination with local government units and other agencies to improve peace and order across the region.

Police records indicated a steady decline in crime incidents after the program's start. Cases dropped from 126 incidents recorded between February 3 and March 6 to 116 incidents from March 7 to April 5. From April 6 to May 6, authorities recorded 113 incidents, after which the number declined to 48 cases from May 7 to 20.

Among the focus crimes monitored by authorities, rape cases posted the biggest decrease, dropping from 49 incidents to 19. Theft cases also declined significantly from 92 to 57, while robbery incidents went down from 25 to 20. Murder cases decreased from 25 to 21, while physical injury cases slightly dropped from 31 to 30. Authorities also recorded fewer incidents of motorcycle carnapping, which declined from 10 cases to four.

PRO-8 director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy stated that the decline in crime incidents reflects the effectiveness of strengthened police operations and interagency cooperation under the SCI. "This reduction in focus crimes shows our commitment to increasing law enforcement, boosting police visibility, and taking proactive steps to ensure community safety," Capoy said in a statement.