THE Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday reported a 61.87 percent decrease in index crimes during the first two years of the Marcos administration as it assured the public that the police force remains steadfast in upholding justice, accountability and respect for human life.
“We continue to implement a balanced approach to law enforcement that combines effective crime prevention with a strong commitment to protecting human rights. Our priority is public safety while ensuring that the dignity of every individual is respected and upheld,” it said.
The statement came following the criticism of former President Rodrigo Duterte that drug-related crimes went up after he left the presidency in 2022.
Duterte made the statement during Monday’s Senate committee hearing where he justified that his violent war on drugs was something that “he had” to do to protect the Filipino people and the country from the menace of illegal drugs.
Taking exemption to the former president’s statement, the PNP said that its campaign against illegal drugs has so far resulted in the seizure of P35.6 billion worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of 122,309 suspects.
“These accomplishments highlight the effectiveness of our strategies and reinforce our dedication to combating the illegal drug trade,” it said.
As to the crime rates, the PNP said: “From July 1, 2022 to July 28, 2024, we noted a remarkable 61.87 percent decrease in total index crimes, with 217,830 reported incidents during the same period of 2016 to 2018 to just 83,059.”
“This significant downward trend spans various categories of crime,” it added.
It said crimes against persons, including murder, homicide, physical injuries, and rape, decreased by 55.69 percent. “Specifically, we recorded reductions of 11,641 in murders; 2,420 in homicides; 2,719 in rape incidents; and a notable decrease of 34,966 in physical injuries,” it also said.
The PNP said crimes against property, such as robbery, theft, and carnapping, decreased by 66.81 percent from 124,799 to 41,420.
It also said that “in addition to the reduction in crime volume, the PNP has made significant strides in operational efficiency, evidenced by a 27.13 percent increase in the Crime Clearance Efficiency rate and a 10.28 percent rise in the Crime Solution Efficiency rate.”
The PNP said the lower crime rate reflects its “commitment to swiftly resolving cases and delivering justice to victims, thereby fostering public trust in our law enforcement efforts.”
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday likewise objected to the statement of Duterte.
Bersamin stressed in a statement that there has been a widespread decline in crime across the board “without foregoing due process nor setting aside the basic human rights of any Filipino.”
“With due respect to former President Rodrigo Duterte, there is no truth to his statement that crime remains rampant in the country. Statistics from the Philippine National Police (PNP) show the complete opposite,” he said, adding that the country is now even safer, the people are more secure, and “our future more assured than ever before under the stewardship of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.”
On the other hand, Remulla said: “Such assertions, made during a Senate hearing on the previous administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign, stand in stark contrast to the comprehensive data provided by the Philippine National Police.”