The crime rates in Metro Manila went down in 2017, according to National Capital Region Police Office chief Oscar Albayalde.
“For 2017, our accomplishments on arrests have exceeded that of the previous year [2016) with crimes against person decreasing by 13.87 percent from 8,841 to 7,305 and crime against properties by 20.58 percent from 13, 200 to 10,483,” said Albayalde.
The Crime Clearance Efficiency, he added, increased by 4.27 percent from 82.88 percent to 86.42 percent.
“The 8-Focused Crimes have also shown significant decrease comparing 2016 and 2017,” said Albayalde.
He said cases of murder went down by 23.38 percent from 1,976 to 1,514; homicide by 26.69 percent from 577 to 423 incidents, while physical injury decreased by 7.62 percent from 4,830 to 4,462, and rape cases down by 17.49 percent from 1,098 to 906 incidents.
The NCRPO also recorded 3,025 incidents of robbery in 2017, 16.04 percent lower than the 3,603 incidents in 2016 while crime against property decreased by 19.92 percent from 8,059 to 6,454 incidents.
Car theft cases also decreased by 48.90 percent from 317 to 162 incidents while incidents of stolen motorcycle went down by 31.04 percent from 1,221 to 842.
Albayalde attributed the continuous decrease of crime incidents on the NCRPO’s intensified implementation of Project Double Barrel Alpha, Project Double Barrel Reloaded and Enhanced Managing Police Operations.
“Our accomplishments on war against illegal drugs have been notable which resulted in the voluntary surrender of another 29,087 and arrest of 17,487 drug offenders. We have seized a total of more or less 755 kilograms of shabu, 34.6 kilograms of marijuana, 211 ecstasy tablets which collectively amounted to more than 3.77 billion pesos,” he said..
In its war against illegal gambling, the NCRPO conducted 2,759 police operations that resulted in the arrest of 8,093 offenders and filed 2,836 cases and confiscated 1,191,385.25 pesos.
Albayalde’s men also conducted 64,502 check points; 263,709 Oplan Bakal Sita; 977,074 Beat Patrol; 478,011 Mobile Patrol; 70,379 Oplan Galugad; and 21,986 Oplan Katok.
“As a result, a total of 44,452 persons with standing warrants and in flagrante delicto were arrested; 295,194 persons were cited and invited in violation of different city/municipal ordinances; 6,632 warrants of arrest were served; and 1,679 firearms, 548 bladed weapons and 13 explosives were confiscated,” he said.
“For internal security operations and counter-terrorism efforts, we conducted a total of 98,138 target hardening measures, implemented 114,974 border control security measures and conducted 25,880 social investigations. We have also arrested a total of 11 members of the Local Terrorist Groups that includes seven members of Maute Group and 4 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group,” said Albayalde.