Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año
MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Saturday the government is even more committed to maintaining its current efforts against crime and drugs following the Philippines' excellent standing in a prestigious worldwide survey on people's views on their security which included the country among the top 50 nations with good peace and order.
The figures culled during interviews done by Washington-based Gallup placed the Philippines in the top 50 list worldwide in Gallup’s 2020 Global Law and Order Index. The highest score was earned by Singapore with 97 while Afghanistan got the lowest with 43. The Philippines had a score of 84.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the 84-percent rating garnered by the Philippines in the Global Law and Order report is proof that the government is winning the war against criminality and drugs and that the people appreciate and recognize the significant accomplishments of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies.
“It is very reassuring for us working in the government knowing that the people feel safe in their homes and on the streets. Itong 84% rating na nakuha ng Pilipinas na kumakatawan sa tiwala ng mga Pilipino ay magsisilbing inspirasyon at hamon para sa pamahalaan (This 84 percent rating which the Philippines got represents the trust of Filipino. This serves as both an inspiration and challenge to the government),” Año said.
“The goal is to sustain this rating in the long run para sa mas ligtas na mamamayan at mas ligtas na Pilipinas (to be better secure the people and a safer Philippines),” he added.
The survey, conducted by Gallup from Oct. 8 to Oct. 24 in 2019, found that at least 80 percent of 2,090 Filipinos interviewed face-to-face or 8 out of 10 Filipinos felt secure, based on their own experiences with crime and law enforcement.
A Washington-based analytical firm, Gallup recently released the 2020 Global Law and Order report, measuring the people’s security and their personal experiences with crime and law enforcement, listing the Philippines among the Top 50 nations in peace and order at par with Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Serbia.
During the interviews, the respondents were asked about their confidence in their local police force, how they felt about walking alone at night in the place where they live, if crimes against the property had been committed against them in the past 12 months, or if they had been assaulted or mugged within the past 12 months.
Año commended the law enforcement agencies, from the police officers and force multipliers like local government unit (LGU) enforcers and barangay tanods, among others, for working tirelessly to make our streets safe and secure which resulted in the positive rating of the people reflected in the Gallup report.
He said the outcome of the survey is a clear reminder to the law enforcers on the ground that the people see and recognize their sacrifices and hard work, especially in the middle of the pandemic where thousands of cops and soldiers were inflicted by the deadly virus.
“The people are not blind to the toil of our law enforcement units. Let us remain resolute and focused on fulfilling our mandate to protect the people,” Año said.
Año said Gallup, being an independent and unbiased international firm, releasing data pointing to positive people’s opinion about the government's peace and order initiatives means that “there is excellent work being implemented by the national government and its instrumentalities.”
Based on data from the Joint Task Force Covid Shield, all eight focus crimes (murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnap both for motorcycle and vehicle) within 223 days of the community quarantine period have declined by 46 percent or 17, 974 reported crime incidents from March 17 to Oct. 25, 2020.
In a recent Pulse Asia survey, President Duterte also achieved a 91-percent approval rating while 84 percent or eight out 10 Filipinos have positive opinions about the work done by the Duterte administration in battling the Covid-19 crisis. (PR)
