(Photo courtesy of PNP)
MANILA – The government remains committed to pursuing an intensified anti-criminality drive and maintaining peace and order in the country, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. made the remark following the latest Pulse Asia Survey results which showed high ratings for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., particularly in the areas of fighting criminality and law enforcement.
He said the 67 percent rating in fighting criminality and 62 percent rating in law enforcement are solid proofs that the government, through the Philippine National Police (PNP), has made significant strides in cracking down on crimes and in maintaining peace and order.
“Natutuwa po kami na napapansin at napapahalagahan ang aming mga ginagawa sa DILG at sa PNP. Makaasa kayo na mas lalo pa naming paiigtingin ang pagtugis sa kriminalidad at pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan at kaayusan sa buong bansa (We are happy that the efforts of the DILG and the PNP are being noticed and appreciated. Rest assured that we will continue to fight crime and maintain peace and order in the country),” he said.
The Pulse Asia survey was conducted from Sept. 17 to 21, 2022, and had 1,200 respondents nationwide. It had a 2.8 percent error margin and a 95 percent confidence level.
Abalos lauded PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and the entire police force for their meritorious contribution to the President’s high rating as both areas are under the purview of the PNP.
The latest accomplishment of the PNP in its anti-drug drive is the seizure of nearly one ton of shabu worth PHP6.7 billion in an operation in Manila on Oct. 8.
The police then found the belongings of a cop identified as M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group and “incriminating documents” suggesting that he is one of the co-conspirators in running the drug den.
This led authorities to launch a follow-up operation culminating in the arrest of Mayo who was allegedly caught in possession of two kilos of suspected shabu worth P13.6 million.
Abalos also feted the PNP for its swift action that foiled the escape attempt of three persons under police custody from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame last Oct. 9, who also briefly took former senator Leila de Lima as hostage.
The PNP conferred Headquarters Support Service (HSS) Director, Colonel Mark Pespes, with the Medalya ng Kadakilaan for his heroism in neutralizing the hostage-taker.
Also awarded the medal were Pat. Lorenze Ian Matias, Chief Master Sergeant Jimmy Ferrez, and Corporal Rizza Pagaduan as well as three members of the elite PNP Special Action Force detailed with the PNP-HSS identified as Capt. Michael Gobway, MSgt. Denver Lou Ngo-oc, and Cpl. Marvin Banigon.
Lesser crimes
Meanwhile, Abalos said the latest crime situation report from the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management showed that index crime volume decreased from 10,701 in July to Oct. 8, 2021 to 9,961 in the same period this year.
He said this includes focus crimes which dropped by 7.03 percent or from 10,640 in 2021 to 9,892 in 2022, with murder dropping by 4.81 percent, homicide dipping by 15.26 percent, physical injury by 16.47 percent, rape by 31.14 percent and carnapping of motor vehicles decreasing by 40.95 percent.
In the area of non-index crimes, Abalos also noted a drop from 50,740 crimes in 2021 to 48,769 in 2022 across the country.
Non-index crimes are violations of special laws such as reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, reckless imprudence resulting in physical injury, and reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property. (PNA)
