MANILA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday reported a substantial decline in the country’s crime rates, demonstrating the effectiveness of its ongoing strategies and proactive measures. The PNP announcement highlighted a significant reduction in both crimes against persons and property, showcasing a positive trend in national law enforcement efforts.
According to Philippines News Agency, the PNP stated that total index crimes in the country dropped by 61.87 percent from July 1, 2022, to July 28, this year, with incidents falling from 217,830 to 83,059 when compared to the same period from 2016 to 2018. Notable decreases were observed in crimes against persons, including murder, homicide, physical injuries, and rape, which saw a reduction of 55.69%. Specifically, the PNP recorded decreases of 11,641 in murders, 2,420 in homicides, 2,719 in rape incidents, and a significant drop of 34,966 in physical injuries.
The PNP also reported a significant decline of 66.81 percent in crimes against property
such as robbery, theft, and carnapping, with reported cases decreasing from 124,799 to 41,420 during the same comparative periods. Additionally, the PNP noted improvements in operational efficiency, with a 27.13 percent increase in the Crime Clearance Efficiency rate and a 10.28 percent rise in the Crime Solution Efficiency rate, reflecting their commitment to swiftly resolving cases and delivering justice to victims.
The PNP emphasized its intensified anti-drug campaign, which has yielded ‘remarkable results.’ In the first two years of enhanced operations, the police force seized illegal drugs valued at PHP35.6 billion and apprehended 122,309 individuals involved in drug-related offenses, highlighting the effectiveness of their strategies in combating the illegal drug trade.
Furthermore, the PNP reiterated its commitment to a balanced approach to law enforcement, combining effective crime prevention with a strong commitment to protecting human rights, aiming to foster public trust in their law enforcement
efforts.