Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla reported a significant drop in focus crimes, including rape, physical injuries, and robbery, from January 1 to June 6 this year, compared to the same period last year.
Focus crimes are considered serious offenses that occur frequently and directly impact public safety.
During the 1st Joint National Peace and Order Council and Regional Peace and Order Council (NPOC-RPOC) Meeting, Remulla said rape incidents went down by 31.85 percent, physical injuries by 30.21 percent, and robbery by 26.47 percent.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief, who is also the NPOC Chairperson, said the campaign against loose firearms resulted in the confiscation of 12,891 illegal firearms and the arrest of 5,314 individuals, 4,096 of whom are now facing charges in court.
“Rest assured, this Council shall continue to explore new ways to protect our communities against crime and disorder. Through our collective actions, we can fortify public safety and ensure that the rule of law prevails,” Remulla said.
