Camp BGen Vicente P Lim – PBGen. Eliseo DC Cruz on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, lauded the men and women of Police Regional Office CALABARZON for all the efforts and hard work in making the region generally peaceful for the past six months since he assumed as the top cop of the regionon May 10, 2021.

“The past months have been tremendously hard and challenging for all of us. But as we look back, I must say that everyone deserves a tap on their back for being resilient and optimistic amid all the trials. Sa pagtatapos ng taon nais kong pasalamatan ang lahat ng kapulisan ng CALABARZON sa kanilang sipag at tapat na paglilingkod. Bagamat sila ay anak, kapatid at mga magulang din, nagawa pa rin nila ang kanilang mga tungkulin ng maayos upang mapanatili ang kaayusan at katahimikan dito sa rehiyon,” said Cruz.

Cruz said the police force of PRO CALABARZON along with the other government agencies, stakeholders and the community had been working hand-in-hand to ensure peace and order in the region.

“Malaking bahagi ng kaayusan at katahimikan ng rehiyon ay dahil sa tulong ng ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, stakeholders, lalong-lalo na ang mamamayan ng CALABARZON na patuloy na nakikpagtulungan sa pagsugpo ng kriminalidad sa ating bayan,” he said.

For the past six months, the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division has documented 25, 372 total crime incidents. There is a decrease in the crime incident by 1.17 % or 300 incidents compared to July – December 2020 with 25, 672 crime incidents.

More so, based on the report, a total of 14, 850 or 96.15% of cases were cleared and 12, 735 or 82.45% were solved for the last 6 months this year.

“I always see to it that cases should be solved with utmost dedication because that is what a law enforcer should do. We give justice to the family of victims and put behind bars the criminals,” Cruz added.

Cruz highlighted the successful solution of the death of Lorena Presbitero De Jesus, Barangay Chairman of Brgy. Kanluran, Sta Rosa City, Laguna that happened last November 22, 2021 inside Pares Mami Store, beside Brgy. Kanluran Health Center and Barangay Hall of Brgy. Kanluran, Sta Rosa City, Laguna.

According to Cruz, he has been on top of the case and has ordered the authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation. As a result, in the CCTV footages, the suspects’ description was captured.

The victim’s daughter who witnessed the incident identified the suspects as Darby Gonzales Bernilla a.k.a Brad, a resident of 46 National Highway, Brgy. Tagapo, Sta Rosa City, Laguna and Rustom Bryle Yambao Maramba a.k.a Teban/Utum, a resident at Maramba Compound, Añonuevo St., Brgy. Kanluran, Sta Rosa City, Laguna.

Through the concerted efforts of the Sta Rosa City Police Station, on December 15, 2021, the daughter of the victim filed a case against the suspects for violation of Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code or murder for conspiring to kill the late Barangay Chairman Lorena Presbitero De Jesus. The case was filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Sta Rosa, Sta Rosa City, Laguna docketed under IS No. IV-19-INV-21L-00588 duly received by Assistant City Prosecutor James E. Villanueva.

“Hindi kami titigil sa pagtugis sa mga kriminal upang masigurado namin na ang mamamayan ng CALABARZON ay makakatulog ng mahimbing ng walang pangamba sa kanilang seguridad,” Cruz added.

On the report dated May 10 – December 26, 2021, there is a total of 1,776 recorded Arrested Most Wanted Persons and 4,393 for the other Most Wanted Persons.

Cruz also said that he put the police force on alert during Christmas and New Year to ensure peaceful and safe celebration for the people of this region. This is in response to the directive of President Duterte to utilize the police force these holidays.

Cruz added that as early as now, the police force of the region have come up with preparations for the upcoming national and local elections.

“After this holiday season, we shall focus on the coming elections. We shall make sure that the people of CALABARZON are safe as they practice their right to suffrage. Ang bawat boto ng mamamayang Pilipino ay susi at tulay tungo sa panibagong pag-asa. Pangalagaan natin ang katahimikan at kaayusan lalo na sa panahon ng eleksyon. Makipagtulungan po tayo sa PNP!,” Cruz as he called on the people to work with the PNP to have safe, secure and peaceful elections.