CHECKPOINT. A member of the Manila Police District Station 14 in Quiapo, Manila checks the driver's license of motorists passing along Claro M. Recto Avenue in this December 2022 photo. The police enhance crime prevention by beefing up visibility. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recorded a significant drop in index crime volume during its first 21 months, the Palace reported on Friday.
Citing a report by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and National Peace and Order Council chairperson Benjamin Abalos Jr. during a meeting in Malacañang in Manila, the PCO said the country's index crime volume decreased by 63.59 percent -- from 196,519 between July 1, 2016 and April 21, 2018 to 71,544 between July 1, 2022 and April 21, 2024.
The report also indicated a decline in the average monthly crime rate for the same periods from 21.92 to 15.04.
Focus crimes such as theft, physical injury, robbery, rape, murder, carnapping and homicide decreased from 196,420 to 71,133 or 63.79 percent decrease.
Non-index crime volume, on the other hand, fell from 345,398 from July 1, 2016 to April 21, 2018 to 300,257 from July 1, 2022 to April 21, 2024.
Index crimes are crimes against persons and property, while non-index crimes are other illegal acts that violate special laws or local ordinances.
From Jan. 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, the Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded a total crime clearance efficiency of 98.88 percent and a total crime solution efficiency of 82.69 percent.
The total crime clearance and solution efficiency figures are 0.32 percent and 0.62 percent higher than the efficiency reports recorded from October 2021 to December 2022.
In terms of the index crime volume, the PNP recorded 48,587 cases from January 2023 to March 2024, which is 4,240 or 8.02 percent lower than the 52,827 cases recorded from October 2021 to December 2022.
The non-index crime, on the other hand, was recorded at 202,377 from January 2023 to March 2024, which is 11,546 or 5.37 percent lower than the 214,923 recorded cases from October 2021 to December 2022.
Abalos cited sustained crime prevention programs, public safety initiatives and convergent efforts of the DILG and the PNP to prevent crimes and protect the citizenry. (PNA)
