Common Crimes Committed in The City of B

Common Crimes Committed 1
COMMON CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE

CITY OF BAGUIO
Lovella Vicente Torres
ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the common crimes committed in Baguio

City. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the crime
situation of the said city. Documentary files was evaluated and
interpreted to determine the nature of crime committed and
informal interviews were conducted as supplement instrument to
acquire more accurate and sufficient data for analysis.
Specifically, it sought to answer the following: the most common
crimes committed in the City of Baguio, the causes of the
occurrence of crime in the City, and the actions undertaken to
solve the crimes.
The following major results were drawn: found the most common
crimes committed in the City of Baguio are Theft and Vehicular
Traffic Accident [VTA] that is also directly related to its
changing demographics and unique criminal justice system. VTA
in terms of Reckless Imprudence Resulting to Damage to Property
due to Human Error of drivers for failure to check brake
systems. The main reason of the large number of vehicular
accidents in Baguio City is because it covers the four major
thoroughfares namely Marcos Highway, Kennon Road, Asin Road, and
Naguilian Road which is the main road used by tourist visiting
tourist destinations in Baguio City. In terms of interventions
to minimize these cases, the Baguio City Police Office deploys
Police Officers to conduct preventive patrol, “tambuli”, and
motorist assistance for the awareness of the public.
Keywords: Crime Situation, Common Crimes, Vehicular Traffic

Accidents, Theft
INTRODUCTION
Crime is a serious issue that affects everyone in society.

It is a problem for contemporary societies that can have wide
and lasting impacts on victims, their families and communities.
According to the encyclopedia, crime is the intentional

commission of an act usually deemed socially harmful or
dangerous and specifically defined, prohibited, and punishable
under criminal law.
While crime is a violation of societal rules of behavior as

interpreted and expressed by the criminal law, which reflects
public opinion, traditional values, and the viewpoint of people
currently holding social and political power. Individuals who
violate these rules are subject to sanctions by state authority,
social stigma, and loss of status (Siegel, 2008).
Every country is now facing a lot of social problems which

need attention and intervention. Among these problems is crime.
One of the significant causes is unemployment. Because people do
not have a stable job which helps them to pay everything in
their lives such as foods and clothes, they cannot improve their
lives. As a result, although something is unlawful, they must do
it to have money. The second cause is migration from rural area
to urban area. Some people consider that they can have a good
life in urban areas. However, some people do not have knowledge
and skills to do anything so they cannot adapt with the new
environment. As a result, they are seduced easily to do unlawful
actions (Bluegenie-j, 2009).
A stronger reason for crime is the unsatisfied desire or

the uncontrolled impulse that drives a man to take by force that
which he has no lawful claim. This desire is strengthened by the
social conditions of the present. The man who resents
interference with his diversions and pleasures is disposed to
defy law, and if he feels that society is not treating him
properly, he is likely to become a lawbreaker. This is one of
the reasons for the prevalence of crime in our society today,
which on the whole increases rather than diminishes, and is a
factor of disturbance in city life (Ezeaku, 2008).
Crime statistics contains all crimes reported and

investigated crimes by the police, which were recorded or
compiled at their office on specific time and day.
In the United States, there are several sources of crime

information such as the Uniform Crime Reports that consists of
crimes reported to the police, the National Crime Victimization
Survey that surveys the public about their crime experiences
whether they have reported the incident to the police or not,
and other sources of information that present the amount and
number of persons processed by the criminal justice system
including jail and prison populations and probation and parole
figures(Vito, Maahs & Holmes, 2007).
In 2018, the 10 most dangerous cities in the world are the

following (Beham, 2018):
1. Los Cabos, Mexico
Los Cabos, Mexico used to be known as a gorgeous resort

town, beloved by American and Canadian tourists. But after a
series of murders in 2017 and 2018 made international news, the
city’s reputation as a peaceful getaway was ruined. Drug cartels
have infiltrated the city making it the most dangerous in the
world and sending homicide rates skyrocketing 500%.
2. Caracas, Venezuela
Caracas used to be the most dangerous city in the world,

but with drug trafficking spiraling out of control in Mexico,
America’s southern neighbor now holds the dubious honor of being
the most dangerous country on earth. With growing political
instability and food shortages, Caracas is still incredibly
dangerous. While in Venezuela, you should avoid ATMs and using
your credit card, not just because of credit card crime, but
because the government of Venezuela demands an unrealistic
conversation rate. It’s hard to avoid muggings and pick
pocketing in Caracas, but you can reduce your risks by not using
your cell phone in public and avoiding public transportation.
3. Acapulco, Mexico
Acapulco was once a scenic resort town that had never made
the list of the most dangerous cities in the world, but in
recent years gang violence and drug trafficking has been
flooding into Acapulco from more violent areas of the country.
4. Natal, Brazil
Natal, meaning Christmas in Portuguese, is a colonial city

that draws tourists thanks to its rich history and famous
beaches. In bygone days Natal was considered a safer alternative
for those wanting to visit Brazil. Now, it’s the most dangerous
city in the country thanks to gang violence and corruption.
Armed assault is frequent in certain beaches, even during the
day, so if you visit Natal stick with safer areas and not
explore at night. It can also be dangerous to ride taxis, so be
sure to call ahead for a taxi through a reputable company.
5. Tijuana, Mexico
Tijuana is a Mexican border town sitting just below the

Mexico-California border. Because of its proximity to
California, Tijuana has long been a popular tourist destination
for Americans; 50 million people cross the border each year. But
Tijuana’s proximity to the border also means its a hotbed for
human trafficking and drug cartels. The homicide rate in Tijuana
has been steadily on the rise for years, thanks largely to the
Mexican drug wars.
6. La Paz, Mexico
Since January, the US State Department placed “do not

travel” advisories on five states in Mexico. That means these
regions just south of the US-Mexico border are considered to be
on the same level of danger for travelers as war torn countries
like Yemen and Syria. One of the cities considered the most
dangerous in Mexico is ironically called La Paz. La Paz is a
coastal city on the Baja California peninsula. Due to its
stunning beaches and thriving biodiversity, tourism is one of
the most important sectors of the economy, but with growing
cartel violence, fewer and fewer tourists are willing to venture
to La Paz.
7. Fortaleza, Brazil
While three Brazilian cities make the top 10 list, it

should be noted that campaigns to reduce crime in major cities
like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have been pretty successful.
However, gang activity has increased in the north of Brazil,
which is why these three northern cities now appear in the top
ten of the most dangerous cities in the world.
8. Ciudad Victoria, Mexico
Ciudad Victoria is a city located in a lush green valley in

Northeastern Mexico. With a homicide rate of 83.32/100,000
residents, it is easily one of the most dangerous cities in the
world. Mexico tops the list as the most dangerous country in the
world outside of a combat zone, but why is it so dangerous? The
report claims the government has failed “to systematically
eradicate the private militias of criminal groups, allowing
impunity to reach the worst levels ever recorded.”
9. Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela
Ciudad Guayana is a Venezuelan port city known for its

gorgeous waterfall and national parks. With Venezuela in
political turmoil and thousands of people living on the brink of
starvation, the country has become increasingly more dangerous.
Travelers should avoid walking around at night or carrying any
valuables on their person. Keep in mind many of the police are
corrupt and can’t really be trusted either. You should also
avoid the region that borders Colombia as it filled with drug
cartels and traffickers.
10. Belem, Brazil
Although it is well known for its colonial charm and

proximity to the Amazon River, the city is also known as one of
the most dangerous in the world. Belem is not only dangerous
because of violent crime; tourists also report many incidents of
theft and muggings.
These top 10 dangerous cities in the world are split

between three countries, all in Latin America. Making the region
the most dangerous in the world are due to Drug cartels, gang
violence, political instability and corruption. There are other
factors that contribute to danger, including sexual assault,
theft infectious disease, and trafficking, the report only
considers homicides rates because these statistics are the most
difficult for corrupt authorities to rig or cover up.
Crime analysis is a law enforcement function that involves

systematic analysis for identifying and analyzing patterns,
trends, and problems in crime and disorder.
In the Philippines, expressed written statements that limit

or prescribe individual actions in the interest of the common
good, i.e. laws from the lowliest traffic ordinances to the
highest mitigations against economic plunder are routinely and
blatantly flouted by Filipinos of all economic class and social
status. In this regard, a culture of crime pervades Philippine
society in which in most days of the week, news about it is
buried in the inside pages of mainstream newspapers or left for
the tabloids and other sensational media to report
(“Philippines: Crime,” 1991).
Crime is an act committed or omitted in violation of a

public law forbidding or commanding it (Reyes, 2006).
In the legal viewpoint, crime subsists when the person has

been proven guilty by the court. The main objective to this view
is the presumption of innocence as provided for by our 1987
Constitution, which only after trial and the proof beyond
reasonable doubt established by the prosecution that the accused
has committed the crime, the person is regarded as a criminal.
In the scientific point of view, crime exists when it is
reported. This is more realistic but not all reported cases are
with sound basis of true happening. Some of them are also
unfounded (Guevara & Bautista, 2010).
It was noted that criminologists in the Philippines

accepted that crimes are committed by the influence of social
conditions, economic conditions, culture, environment, and
individual personal temperaments. In terms of the Filipino
temperaments, it is because the Philippines is in the tropic
zone and theoretically Filipinos are hot-blooded people with
very volatile temperaments that sometimes climate conditions
have little to do with the criminal propensity of the Filipinos.
Filipinos propensity to commit crimes is greatly influenced by
poor economic and social conditions which often results in
crimes against property, against persons and against special
laws (Guevara & Bautista, 2010).
Police attributed the country's chronic crime problems to a

variety of social and cultural factors. Widespread poverty and
rapid population growth were frequently cited. Population
pressures and a shortage of land and jobs in rural areas had
produced a steady internal migration to the cities. This
urbanization of a traditionally agrarian society was commonly
mentioned as cause for increased crime rates (“Philippines:
Crime,” 1991).
Regarding the crime situation in the Philippines as of July

2012, crime volume registered a total of 18,826 incidents and
the total crimes solved are 7,210. The average crime rate is
19.16. Index crimes marked by 10,650 while non-index crimes
marked by 8,176. The crime solution efficiency is 38.30 percent
(“Statistics on all crime incidents referred/processed/gathered
by reporting PROs,” 2012).
A consistent finding in traditional analyses of police-

recorded crime rates was that recorded crime is more prevalent
in large cities than in rural areas. These studies confirmed the
general 19th century stereotype of cities as hotbeds of vice and
crime. More recent statistics on police-recorded crime generally
confirm the urban-rural divide. In many European countries, for
example, the number of police-recorded crimes is at least twice
as high per 1, 000 inhabitants in larger cities as in the
countryside (Dijk, 2008).
This happens because targets of crime such as cars and

other luxury goods are abundantly available in large cities,
while the daily routines of urban dwellers may leave these
targets of crime less “socially well-guarded.” Typical for large
cities, for example, are shopping malls and large-scale school
complexes where natural surveillance is weak (Dijk, 2008).
Out of the total registered crime incidents in the

Cordillera Administrative Region in the 1st quarter of 2015,
close to half or 46.0 percent occurred in Baguio City, about a
quarter of the cases was recorded in Benguet (25.6%), while rest
of the incidents took place in the five other provinces. Apayao,
with a crime volume of 106 incidents, had the least share at
only 1.6 percent of the regional total. Physical injury
comprised 90.0 percent of recorded crimes against persons,
contributing 47.7 percent of the total volume of index crimes in
CAR. Meanwhile, theft made up 72.3 percent of crimes against
property, contributing 34.0 percent of the total index crimes.
[CAR, 2015].
Overall, CAR had an average monthly crime rate of about 127

per 100,000 total populations and a crime solution efficiency of
64.1 percent in the first quarter of 2015.
In 2018, Baguio City was listed as one of the safest cities

both in the ASEAN region, ranking sixth with a crime index of
40.57 and safety index of 59.43. The Baguio City Police Office
also has the highest crime solution efficiency nationwide of
84%, compared to the national 77% and the region's 70%.
The crime volume in the city is on a steady decline,

particularly index crimes, which declined by 42 percent, over
one year and four months, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO)
reported. “What is notable in this decrease is the emphasis on
the reduction of index crimes, from 703 in 2017 to only 409 in
2018, a statistical decrease of 294 incidents or 42 percent, or
almost half,” Col. Allen Rae Co, City Director, BCPO, said
during the flag-raising ceremony. He added that from January to
April, there was a 16 percent reduction, or 22 incidents, in
index crimes.
Index crimes are crimes against property, such as theft,

robbery, and car theft; as well as crimes against persons, such
as homicide, murder, rape, and physical injuries.
With the mandate that there is no letting up in the

campaign against illegal drugs, the BCPO sustained its pursuit
of drug personalities in the city, resulting in the arrest of 74
personalities in violation of the anti-illegal drugs law in
2018.Co said the city remains the sixth safest city in Southeast
Asia but is moving forward to achieve the target of becoming the
safest city in the Asian region.
Baguio City is a city in the mountainous area of the

Northern Luzon, Philippines. It is known as the Summer Capital
of the Philippines, owing to its cool climate since the city is
located approximately 4,810 feet (1,470 meters) above mean sea
level, often cited as 1,540 meters (5,050 feet) in the Luzon
tropical pine forests ecoregion, which also makes it conducive
for the growth of mossy plants, orchids and pine trees, to which
it attributes its other moniker as the "City of Pines". Baguio
is classified as a Highly Urbanized City (HUC). It is
geographically located within Benguet, serving as the provincial
capital from 1901 to 1916, but has since been administered
independently from the province following its conversion into a
chartered city. The city is a major center of business,
commerce, and education in northern Luzon, as well as the
location of the Cordillera Administrative Region. According to
the 2015 census, Baguio has a population of 345,366.
The areas of Session Road, Harrison Road, Magsaysay Avenue
and Abanao Street comprise the trade center of the city, where
commercial and business structures such as cinemas, hotels,
restaurants, department stores, and shopping centers are
concentrated.
The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) created the following

Best Practices that greatly helps in the attainment of the
Mission, Vision and objectives of the PNP Organization as a

whole.
1. Short Film Competition for High School Students
The Baguio City Police Office in coordination with the

Department of Education, (DEPEd) Baguio City and Pine
International Academy Incorporated conceptualized a short film
for high school students.
The Short Film competition aims to showcase the creativity
of the students to compose short movie that defines a film
focused on the ill-effects of illegal drugs in the family which
tarnishes relationship and what are the actions to be undertaken
to address the situation up to the rehabilitation processes of
the subject until reformation and integration to the community.
2. INTEGRATED BARANGAY DEFENSE SYSTEM
The Baguio City Police Office in coordination with the
Local Government Unit and Barangay through the established
Barangay Peace and Order Advisory Councils (BPOAC)
conceptualized and employed the INTEGRATED BARANGAY DEFENSE
SYSTEM.
The Integrated Barangay Defense System is an initiative of
BCPO to address the rising crime incidents and the alarming mode
of commission within the Barangays since this embodies an
enhanced Neighborhood Watch System and community mapping. It
aims to integrate existing police initiatives like the Barangay
Peacekeeping operations and the Barangay Information network.
3. TAMBULI
The public address (PA) system is a portable, rugged, easy
to operate, and cost effective system and shall be used by
police personnel to communicate effectively to large public for
them to be aware of their own surroundings and be responsible of
their own belongings. This is to deter potential violators as
well as to warn unwitting victims of crime.
4. PROJECT APRUB
To ensure the security of foreign and local tourists, this

office mobilizes 50 APRUB Volunteers (”Agtitinulong ti Pulis ken
Residente para iti Urnos ken talna ti Baguio”) under the control
and supervision of Tourist Police Unit. They helped man the
different tourist spots and regularly being mobilized during
special events.
5. WEARING OF REFLECTORIZED VEST
One basic part of a “Baguio’s Finest” uniform is the

reflectorized vest which makes the Police easily identifiable
and visible to the community thereby casting upon the public the
feeling of security through omnipresence of the Baguio’s
Finest throughout the city.
6. TIMPUYOG TI BABBAKET
Women from this civilian volunteer group together with the
PNP personnel of Station 9 conduct a joint operation like night
patrolling and visitation on drinking establishments,
implementing curfew hours, promoting and achieving workforce
diversity and also help in the crime prevention within the area
of responsibility.
7. OPLAN MASID
The CCTV security systems installed in major thoroughfares
provides traffic officers a clear view on traffic problems while
on public places, banks, hospitals, malls and other vital
installations can deter crime incidents, provide the police with
leads and help citizens feel safer. CCTV systems mostly deter
property crimes and robberies. However, it may not catch all
crimes because they may occur outside the field vision of
cameras in more deserted areas. Fortunately in most situations,
when a CCTV system is in place, criminals generally shy away
from these monitored areas fearing prosecution since these
recorded images can be used in court.
In line with the OPLAN Masid in its desire to fight and

address problems on criminalities, this office has established
three CCTV monitors in our office with 26 CCTV cameras installed
at different strategic locations delivering security services to
the constituents of the 23 barangays in our area of
jurisdiction.
The study on common crimes committed in Baguio City aims to
know the overall crime picture in the city that may lead
appropriate agencies and offices to come up with counter-
measures.
In view of the foregoing, the researcher found that there

is a need to conduct a study with regard to the common crimes
committed in the City of Baguio as basis to address the problems
to be identified.
In fact, the study would be transparent as to the current

situation in fight against criminal violence and to reduce other
crime-related activities within the vicinity.
The findings will be significant in the short or long -term

development planning. This study will also be of importance to
several entities namely PNP officials, barangay officials and
community partners, criminologists, future researchers, and
students.
Since safety and protection of the citizenry and

communities are the ultimate focus of police agencies, the
findings of this study will serve as basis for the PNP officials
in identifying and planning appropriate and workable courses of
action to prevent crime and sustain peace and order.
The results of this study will also provide the barangay

officials and community partners’ insights and useful
information which will help them direct their support as well as
significant roles in preventing crime in their respective
communities. Through this study, they will also be guided on
what areas of concern they need to address in order to maintain
harmonious relationship with the law enforcers.
The findings of this study may serve as basis in the

formulation of policies and decisions in the participation of
the PNP as well as the community officials and volunteers toward
peace and order in the area that would possibly boost a better
tourism industry in the city. It will provide information that
can be useful in identifying as well as executing tasks that may
empower and enjoin the communities in enforcing anti-crime
strategies and activities.
This study can also provide benchmark information and added

literature on crime situation analysis to future researchers a nd
students.
The theoretical/ conceptual basis of this study is anchored

on the concepts and theories relating to criminal behavior,
nature of crimes, and factors that influence to the commission
of crime.
Concept of Crime
Criminologists usually align themselves with one of several

schools of thought or perspectives. Each of these perspectives
maintains its own view of what constitutes criminal behavior and

what causes people to engage in criminality. A criminologist’s
choice of orientation or perspectives depends, in part, on his
or her definition of crime. The three most common concepts of
crime used by criminologists are consensus view, conflict view,
and interactionist view. The consensus view is the belief that
the majority of citizens in a society share common values and
agree on what behaviors should be defined as criminal. The
conflict view is the belief that criminal behavior is defined by
those in a position of power to protect and advance their own
self-interest. On the other hand, the interactionist view is the
belief that those with social power are able to impose their
values on society as a whole, and these values then define
criminal behavior (Siegel, 2008).
Generally, a criminal act must be completed for a crime to

exist. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. When a
person is unsuccessful in the commission of a crime, that person
can be charged with criminal attempt. In addition, once an
agreement is made between two or more people to commit a crime,
they are guilty of conspiracy.
The level of “evilness” is the basis of typology of crimes.

Mala in se, Latin for “evil in itself,” refers to crimes that
are intrinsically evil, such as murder. Althoug h societies may
differ on the details of acts that constitute murder, all
prohibit the behavior. This term is in contrast with mala
prohibita, Latin for “wrong because it is prohibited,” which
refers to activities that have been outlawed not because they
are obviously evil, but because they violate certain standards
governing behavior (Winfree & Abadinsky, 2003).
Co-extensive with the typology of crimes are the basic

elements or ingredients for crime to exist in order to determine
the criminal liability depending on the criminal propensity.
According to Coronel as cited by Verceles (2003), there are

three elements or ingredients that must be present at the same
time and place for the crime to happen. These are motive,
instrumentality and opportunity.
Motive refers to the reason or cause why a person or group

of person will perpetrate a crime. Examples are dispute,
economic gain, jealousy, revenge, insanity, thrill,
intoxication, drug addiction and many others.
Instrumentality is the means or implement used in the

commission of the crime. It could be a firearm, a bolo, a knife,
an ice pick, poisonous or obnoxious substance, a crow bar, a
battery-operated hand drill for carnapping motor vehicle, etc.
Both motive and instrumentality belong to and harbored and
wielded respectively by the criminal.
Opportunity consists of the acts of omission and/or

commission by a person (the victim), which enables the other
person or group of persons (the criminal/s) to perpetrate the
crime. Illustrative examples include leaving one’s home
unattended for a long period of time, walking alone in a well-
known crime prone alley, wearing expensive jewelries in slum
area, readily admitting a stranger into one’s residence and the
like. Opportunity is synonymous with carelessness, acts of
indiscretion and lack of crime prevention consciousness on the
part of the victim.
Whether a crime incident would happen or not, it will

depend on the presence and merging of motive, instrumentality
and opportunity at the same time and the same place. The absence
of any of the ingredients, out of the three, will mean that
there shall be no crime. The most that could happen is an
accident arising out of reckless imprudence; since there is no
motive. A freak crime incident shall occur when all the three
elements are present and merged at the same time and the same
place; but the victim is not the intended one, due to mistaken
identity.
Criminal behavior is an intentional behavior that violates

the criminal law. Criminal behavior, therefore, is beyond
normal behavior since it is used to describe conducts or actions
that do not belong to the standard behavior of man.
Crime Theories on Criminal Behavior
In criminology, examining why people commit crime is very

important in the ongoing debate of how crime should be handled
and prevented. Many theories have emerged over the years, and
they continue to be explored, individually and in combination,
as criminologists seek the best solutions in ultimately reducing
types and levels of crime. Here is a broad overview of some key
theories:
Rational choice theory: People generally act in their self-

interest and make decisions to commit crime after weighing the
potential risks (including getting caught and punished) against

the rewards.
Social disorganization theory: A person’s physical and
social environments are primarily responsible for the behavioral
choices that person makes. In particular, a neighborhood that
has fraying social structures is more likely to have high crime
rates. Such a neighborhood may have poor schools, vacant and
vandalized buildings, high unemployment, and a mix of commercial
and residential property.
Strain theory: Most people have similar aspirations, but
they don’t all have the same opportunities or abilities. When
people fail to achieve society’s expectations through approved
means such as hard work and delayed gratification, they may
attempt to achieve success through crime.
Social learning theory: People develop motivation to commit
crime and the skills to commit crime through the people they
associate with.
Labeling theory: People in power decide what acts are
crimes, and the act of labeling someone a criminal is what makes
him a criminal. Once a person is labeled a criminal, society
takes away his opportunities, which may ultimately lead to more
criminal behavior.
Biology, genetics, and evolution: Poor diet, mental
illness, bad brain chemistry, and even evolutionary rewards for
aggressive criminal conduct have been proposed as explanations
for crime.
Economic or migration theory explains that the
proliferation of crime is the result of unrestrained migration
and overpopulation in urban areas, particularly, in ghettos and
slums.
Demographic theory is based on the event of when a greater

number of children are being born; establishes the fact that as
these baby booms grow up, delinquent subcultures develop out of
the adolescent identity crisis.
Finally, control theories in criminology are all about

social control. It focuses upon a person's relationships to
their agents of socialization, such as parents, teachers,
preachers, coaches, scout leaders, or police officers. It
studies how effective bonding with such authority figures
translates into bonding with society, hence keeping people out
of trouble with the law (“Crime Theories,” 2004; Vito, Maahs &
Holmes, 2007; “An Introduction to Comparative Criminal Justice,”
2004).
The Nature of Crime
The nature of crime is the essential qualities and/or

characteristics of criminal offenses.
Four conditions must exist for an act or omission to be

considered a crime: the act is considered wrong by society, the
act causes harm to society in general or those in need of
protection, the harm is serious, and the remedy must be handled
by the criminal justice system. Criminal law is the body of laws
that prohibit and punish acts that injure people, property, and
the entire community. These laws protect people and property,
maintain order, and preserve standards of public decency
(Pearson Education, 2010).
As cited by Verceles (2003), crimes are categorized in the

Philippines as Index or Non-index crimes. Index Crimes are
further broken into categories such as crimes against person,
property and chastity. Verceles further mentioned that with the
advent of the passage of Republic Act 8353, rape, which used to
be classified under crimes against chastity, had been
reclassified as crime against person, in effect removing the
category of crime against chastity. A crime against person
includes murder, homicide, physical injuries and rape while a
crime against property includes robbery and theft. Other
offenses not falling within the said category are considered as
non-index crimes as in cases of the Violations of Special Laws
such as Dangerous Drug Act (RA 9165); Illegal Possession of
Firearms and Ammunition (PD 1866 as amended); Carnapping (RA
7438); Illegal Gambling (PD 1602) and many others.
The objective of this paper is to evaluate the crimes

committed in the City of Baguio in order to come up with
recommendations that the City and the law enforcement agencies
may adopt.
Specifically, it seeks to answer the following;
1. What are the most common crimes committed in the City of

Baguio?
2. What are the causes of the occurrence of crime in the City

of Baguio?
3. What are the actions undertaken to solve the crimes?

METHODOLOGY
This study made use of descriptive method with documentary

analysis technique. The descriptive method was appropriate to
gather information about the variables in the stud y. This study
described and analyzed the most common crimes committed in
Baguio City.
According to Martinez, as cited by Japson (2010), the

descriptive approach is used mainly to describe contemporary
events, and that the research questions and problems are rooted
in the past and may affect the future.
Analyzing the documents on the reported crimes of the city

was used to determine the most common crimes committed and the
causes of the occurrence of crime in the city.
Problems number 1 and 2 which focus on the most common

crimes committed and causes of the occurrence of crime in the
city, respectively were answered through documentary analysis
specifically analyzing the records on the reported crimes of the
city. Problem number 3 were answered based on the informal
interviews with some of the personnel of the BCPO.
To address the ethical requirements appropriately in

conducting this research, the researcher did a preliminary visit
to Baguio City Police Office asked permission to inquire about
the documents pertaining to crime data. To protect the
informations gathered from the data, this research does not
include any name of the victims or perpetrators in the
manuscript; only the reported number of crimes and the causes of
the occurrence of crime. The result of the study will be
presented in a discussion between the course facilitator and the
graduate students enrolled in the University of Baguio.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Figure 1. A Comparative Total Crime Volume recorded in

January to October 2018 and January to October 2019 in Baguio
City.
Figure 2. A Comparative Index Crime Distribution recorded

in 2017 and 2018 in Baguio City.
Figure 3. A Comparative Non-Index Crime Distribution

recorded in January to October 2018 and January to October 2019
in Baguio City.
Traffic Vehicular Accident 2018
Homicide
Physical
Injuries
Damage to
Property
Figure 4. presents the incidents recorded fell under the

vehicular traffic accidents, of which there were nine homicide
cases, 394 physical injuries, and 1,757 damage to property due
to reckless imprudence.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The study found the most common crimes committed in the
City of Baguio are Theft and Vehicular Traffic Accident. The
main reason is that Baguio is the melting pot of different
peoples and cultures in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Because of this, numerous investments and business opportunities
are lured to the city. Baguio has a large retail industry, with
shoppers coming to the city to take advantage of the diversity
of competitively priced commercial products on sale. The city is
also popular with bargain hunters—some of the most popular
bargaining areas include Baguio Market and Maharlika Livelihood
Center. Despite the city's relatively small size, it is home to
numerous shopping centers and malls catering to increasing
commercial and tourist activity in Baguio: these include SM City
Baguio, Baguio Center Mall, Cooyeesan Plaza, Abanao Square, The
Maharlika Livelihood Center, Porta Vaga Mall, Centerpoint Plaza,
Cedar Peak Mall, Puregold, SM Savemore, Tiongsan, Country Mart,
Victoria Supermart, Sunshine Supermarket, and Ayala Technohub
Retail Plaza. Various food and retail businesses run by local
residents proliferate, forming a key part of Baguio's cultural
landscape. Several retail outlets and dining outlets are
situated along Bonifacio Street, Session Road, Teacher's
Camp, Mines View Park and Baguio Fastfood Center near the
market.
To resolve the problem on theft and VTAs a CCTV security
systems were installed in major thoroughfares provides police
officers a clear view on traffic problems while on public
places, banks, hospitals, malls and other vital installations
can deter crime incidents, provide the police with leads and
help citizens feel safer. CCTV systems mostly deter property
crimes and robberies. However, it may not catch all crimes
because they may occur outside the field vision of cameras in
more deserted areas. Fortunately in most situations, when a CCTV
system is in place, criminals generally shy away from these
monitored areas fearing prosecution since these recorded images
can be used in court.
Established from the abovementioned conclusions, the

following are the proposed recommendation:
a. To install more CCTV monitoring within the City of Baguio.
b. For BCPO-PNP to continue monitoring road conditions for
motorist advisory and to continue conducting motorist
assistance.
c. The City shall innovate or craft an ordinance controlling
and monitoring the registrations of all taxis operating in
the City such as sticker and color and/or number coding
system in order for the BCPO to have access on the records

and familiarization on the taxis running within the City.
d. For drivers to drive safely and follow the rules of the
road. Check regularly the vehicle and conditioning oneself
before traversing the road.
References
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Common Crimes Committed 1

COMMON CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE

Lovella Vicente Torres

This study focuses on the common crimes committed in Baguio

Keywords: Crime Situation, Common Crimes, Vehicular Traffic

Crime is a serious issue that affects everyone in society.

According to the encyclopedia, crime is the intentional

While crime is a violation of societal rules of behavior as

Every country is now facing a lot of social problems which

A stronger reason for crime is the unsatisfied desire or

Crime statistics contains all crimes reported and

In the United States, there are several sources of crime

In 2018, the 10 most dangerous cities in the world are the

1. Los Cabos, Mexico

Los Cabos, Mexico used to be known as a gorgeous resort

Caracas used to be the most dangerous city in the world,

Natal, meaning Christmas in Portuguese, is a colonial city

Tijuana is a Mexican border town sitting just below the

Since January, the US State Department placed “do not

While three Brazilian cities make the top 10 list, it

8. Ciudad Victoria, Mexico

Ciudad Victoria is a city located in a lush green valley in

9. Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela

Ciudad Guayana is a Venezuelan port city known for its

10. Belem, Brazil

Although it is well known for its colonial charm and

These top 10 dangerous cities in the world are split

Crime analysis is a law enforcement function that involves

In the Philippines, expressed written statements that limit

Crime is an act committed or omitted in violation of a

In the legal viewpoint, crime subsists when the person has

It was noted that criminologists in the Philippines

Police attributed the country's chronic crime problems to a

Regarding the crime situation in the Philippines as of July

A consistent finding in traditional analyses of police-

This happens because targets of crime such as cars and

Out of the total registered crime incidents in the

Overall, CAR had an average monthly crime rate of about 127

In 2018, Baguio City was listed as one of the safest cities

The crime volume in the city is on a steady decline,

Index crimes are crimes against property, such as theft,

With the mandate that there is no letting up in the

Baguio City is a city in the mountainous area of the

The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) created the following

Mission, Vision and objectives of the PNP Organization as a

The Baguio City Police Office in coordination with the

To ensure the security of foreign and local tourists, this

5. WEARING OF REFLECTORIZED VEST

One basic part of a “Baguio’s Finest” uniform is the

In line with the OPLAN Masid in its desire to fight and

In view of the foregoing, the researcher found that there

In fact, the study would be transparent as to the current

The findings will be significant in the short or long -term

Since safety and protection of the citizenry and

The results of this study will also provide the barangay

The findings of this study may serve as basis in the

This study can also provide benchmark information and added

The theoretical/ conceptual basis of this study is anchored

Criminologists usually align themselves with one of several

maintains its own view of what constitutes criminal behavior and

Generally, a criminal act must be completed for a crime to

The level of “evilness” is the basis of typology of crimes.

Co-extensive with the typology of crimes are the basic