Crime rate down by 8%, says PNP

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THE PNP yesterday reported an eight percent drop in crime incidence in the country from January to August 15 this year, compared to the same period last year.

PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo bared this during a radio interview as she continued to dismiss allegations, made on social media, of a surge in crime rate.

“If we are going to base it from the statistics we gathered, from January to August 15, 2022 compared to the same period of 2021, there is an eight percent decrease in total crime incidence,” said Fajardo.

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Fajardo, however, did not say how many incidents were reported during the two periods.

“Even on the index crimes, what we call the focused crimes, the crimes against persons and crimes against property, there is really a reduction,” said Fajardo.

Fajardo acknowledged that there have been incidents of kidnapping, some of them leading to murder, reported on social media over the past weeks.

Fajardo said some of these incidents were actually old cases that have been solved by the police and that suspects have been arrested and detained and already charged in court.

Fajardo said there were also incidents that were actually made up to gain social media followers. He said some were posted by cyber criminals to identify phishing victims.

One of the made-up incidents was in Caloocan City where a 15-year-old girl claimed a group of men, aboard a white van, allegedly tried to abduct her about two weeks ago and that she was saved by a tricycle driver.

“When it was investigated by the PNP, it turned out it was made up by the girl, that’s why her parents made a public apology,” said Fajardo.

Fajardo said the PNP is hoping to sustain the decrease in crime incidence until the end of the year despite the easing up of COVID-19 restrictions and the resumption of face-to-face classes.

“There are no longer border and province-to-province restrictions (due to COVID-19) and criminals are also taking this opportunity to commit crimes,” said Fajardo.

Fajardo said PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has ordered police regional directors to instruct police chiefs to sustain “maximum presence” in areas where crimes may likely occur.

“This school year, we expect to sustain police presence and visibility in the vicinity of the schools until the end of the school year (to prevent crimes from happening),” added Fajardo.

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