CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna (June 4) — Despite a significant decline in crimes against women and children in several provinces, Police Regional Office 4-A (PRO-4A) remains on heightened alert as records show that an average of five cases of sexual abuse are still reported every day across the CALABARZON region.
Covering the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, CALABARZON is the country’s most populous region, with more than 16.19 million residents based on the 2020 Census, surpassing even the National Capital Region’s 13.48 million population. More recent census data places the region’s population at nearly 17 million people.
Against this backdrop, Police Brigadier General Hansel M. Marantan, regional director of PRO-4A, said the police force has intensified its campaign against criminality, particularly offenses committed against women, children, and other vulnerable sectors.
“From May 18 to 31, we arrested 274 suspects composed of persons with standing warrants of arrest and individuals involved in newly filed criminal cases,” Marantan said.
The regional police chief emphasized that while theft continues to be the most frequently reported crime in the region, PRO-4A has registered encouraging gains in reducing violence and abuse-related incidents through sustained law enforcement operations and community-based crime prevention programs.
In Batangas, police authorities reported a significant reduction in rape cases, a development that officials attribute to aggressive police intervention, strengthened intelligence gathering, community vigilance, and expanded awareness campaigns aimed at protecting women and children.
Marantan reiterated his uncompromising stance against crimes targeting vulnerable sectors.
“We will not tolerate crimes against women, children, and other vulnerable members of society. Every victim deserves protection, and every offender will be pursued relentlessly,” he stressed.
The campaign forms part of the region’s broader Safer Cities Initiative, which seeks to make communities more secure through increased police visibility, rapid response mechanisms, stronger partnerships with local government units, schools, civil society organizations, and barangay officials.
Police Colonel Oliver Ebora, Batangas Polove Provincial Commander noted that while the average of five reported sexual abuse cases daily remains alarming, the figure must be viewed in the context of a region approaching 17 million residents spread across five highly urbanized and rapidly growing provinces.
Police Colonel Ebora, Batangas Police Provincial Commander, during the Wednesday command conference said continued public awareness, prompt reporting, victim support mechanisms, and decisive law enforcement actions remain crucial in further reducing crimes against women and children.
As Calabarzon continues to expand economically and demographically, Marantan said the challenge for law enforcement is not only to lower crime statistics but also to ensure that every city and municipality becomes a safer place for women, children, and families.
“The measure of peace and order is not simply the number of arrests we make, but whether our people feel safe in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities,” Marantan added.
