NEGROS ISLAND REGION — Stronger police visibility, intensified anti-crime operations and faster emergency response marked Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño’s first 100 days as director of the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), with police reporting an overall decline in crime—but also warning that some serious offenses continue to rise.
From May 8 to August 16, 2026, PRO-NIR recorded 2,206 total crime incidents, down from 2,502 during the previous comparable 100-day period. That represents an 11.83% decrease, or 296 fewer reported incidents.
The decline was also reflected in the region’s eight focus crimes, which fell 19.59%, from 296 cases to 238.
Among the biggest decreases were homicide, down 46.34%; motorcycle carnapping, 38.46%; physical injury, 38.24%; murder, 24.39%; and theft, 7.02%.
₱211.5 million worth of drugs, cigarettes seized
The crime reduction came alongside intensified enforcement operations.
During Cardiño’s first 100 days, PRO-NIR reported 761 anti-drug operations, resulting in 822 arrests and the seizure of nearly 20 kilograms of suspected shabu and 1,422 grams of marijuana.
The estimated value of the seized illegal drugs was placed at approximately ₱136.01 million.
Police also conducted 526 operations against cigarette smuggling, arresting 25 people and confiscating allegedly smuggled cigarettes valued at about ₱75.47 million.
Combined, the estimated value of the seized suspected illegal drugs and smuggled cigarettes reached approximately ₱211.48 million.
The operations did not stop there.
PRO-NIR reported 1,161 wanted persons arrested, while its campaign against loose firearms resulted in 255 firearms being confiscated and another 264 unlicensed firearms surrendered.
Police also carried out 362 anti-illegal gambling operations, leading to 808 arrests and the confiscation of about ₱152,935 in alleged gambling proceeds.
A police response system built around 911
One of Cardiño’s notable initiatives during the first 100 days was the launch of the SAFE NIR Dial 911 program on June 4.
The system was designed to give residents a more direct channel for requesting police assistance during emergencies.
From its launch until August 16, the program received 364 calls, with police responses resulting in 53 arrests, according to PRO-NIR.
The program covers police jurisdictions in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Bacolod City, which make up the newly established Negros Island Region police office.
The figures suggest that the initiative is already being used as an additional link between residents and law enforcement.
But the numbers are not all good news
Despite the overall decline in reported crime, PRO-NIR acknowledged that rape cases increased by 6.82% while robbery cases climbed by 13.64% during the comparison period.
Those increases remain a significant concern and underscore the need for sustained police visibility, stronger investigation and prevention efforts, and deeper community-based interventions.
This is the more complicated picture behind Cardiño’s first 100 days.
The overall crime numbers are moving downward, but the increases in rape and robbery show that lower total crime does not necessarily mean every community is becoming safer in every respect.
Beyond arrests and seizures
PRO-NIR also highlighted internal reforms during the period, including personnel training, the use of body-worn cameras, improvements in information technology and logistics, organizational reforms and preparations for ISO 9001 certification.
For Cardiño, the first 100 days appear to be less about declaring victory and more about establishing a policing system that is visible, responsive and measurable.
The challenge now is whether the gains can be sustained—and whether police can reverse the troubling increases in crimes such as rape and robbery.
For residents across Negros Island, that may ultimately be the real test of Cardiño’s leadership: not simply whether crime statistics fall, but whether people feel safer when they need police the most.
Leave a Reply