TACLOBAN CITY, May 26 -- 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.

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 showed a steady decline in crime incidents after the program's implementation. Cases dropped from 126 incidents recorded between Feb. 3 and...