Police notes almost zero crime rate in RP during Pacquiao fight

By Ronron
October 8, 2007

The Philippine National Police (PNP) claimed on Monday that there was a zero crime rate during the actual time that Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao was fighting against Marco Antonio Barrera last Sunday (Manila time) at a boxing ring in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Police officials said crimes only happened before and after the 12-round bout of Pacquiao and Barrera, which the former won by a unanimous decision of three judges.

“There was none. This is what usually happens because we are expecting our countrymen to be glued to their TV monitors for the Pacquiao fight,” PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla told Camp Crame reporters yesterday when asked if any crime was reported during Pacquiao’s boxing match with Barrera.

Varilla said the zero-crime rate was noted from 11 am to 1pm.

Specifically, in Metro Manila, no crime was reported from 8am to 3pm, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias.

“This was expected just like in the previous fights of Pacquiao,” Barias said in a separate news conference, adding that even traffic was reduced by 75 percent.

Officials said only at least six crime incidents were reported before 11am and after 1pm all over the country, much fewer compared to during regular days.

The incidents include a reported abduction in Bataan, a raid by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Compostela Valley, two unspecified incidents in Region VII, and two stabbing incidents in Metro Manila.

“We can only hope that Pacquiao will have a fight every day so there will be no crime incidents,” Varilla said./DMS