The Philippine National Police (PNP) has reported a significant drop in index crimes across the country, with the crime rate declining by 61.87% since July 2022. According to data released on Tuesday, the PNP recorded 83,059 cases from July 1, 2022, to July 28, 2024, a sharp decrease from the 217,830 incidents reported between 2016 and 2018.
The PNP highlighted that crimes against persons saw a 55.69% reduction. Physical injury cases fell by 34,966, while there were 11,641 fewer murder cases, 2,719 fewer incidents of rape, and a decrease of 2,420 in homicides. Additionally, crimes against property, such as robbery, theft, and carnapping, dropped by 66.81%, down from 124,799 to 41,420 incidents.
These figures align with improvements in police efficiency. The PNP reported a 27.13% rise in crime clearance rates and a 10.28% boost in crime solution efficiency. The anti-drug campaign also yielded substantial results, with P35.6 billion worth of illegal drugs confiscated and 122,309 arrests made for drug-related offenses. “These accomplishments highlight the effectiveness of our strategies,” the PNP noted in an Inquirer.net report, emphasizing a balance between enforcement and human rights protection.
The report was released shortly after former President Rodrigo Duterte’s Senate appearance on Monday, where he voiced concerns over what he described as a resurgence in drug-related crimes, mentioning a recent raid near Malacañang Palace. However, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin countered this, stating, “There is no truth to his statement that crime remains rampant.”
Duterte’s remarks come as the Senate continues to examine his administration’s anti-drug campaign in a Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee investigation.
