The country’s crime rate has dropped by 8 percent in the first 10 months of the year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Thursday.
Citing the latest data from its Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS), the police force recorded a total of 32,031 index crimes from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 this year–a decrease of 2,877 cases from 34,908 cases logged in the same period last year.
Index crimes are crimes against persons and property while non-index crimes are all other illegal acts, including violations of special laws or local ordinances.
Focus crimes, which include murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, rape, and carnapping of motor vehicles, likewise decreased by 8.18% in the same period–from 34,702 cases in 2022 to 31,864 cases this year.
“These promising outcomes stand as a clear testament to the tireless and coordinated efforts of the PNP contrary to popular narratives, the statistics undeniably demonstrate a noteworthy decline in the overall crime rate during the 10 months of 2023. This success reflects the PNP’s commitment to ‘Serbisyong Nagkakaisa’ and our unwavering vow to decisively suppress criminal activities, ensuring the safety and security of our communities,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said in a statement.
The PNP said the campaign against carnapping involved a total of 482,963 operations, leading to the recovery of 973 vehicles, including 245 motor vehicles and 728 motorcycles.
Meanwhile, 972 carnapping suspects were arrested and 542 cases have been filed in court.
The PNP’s efforts against wanted persons resulted in the voluntary surrender of 341 individuals, along with an impressive 63,486 arrests.
In the campaign against loose firearms, 7,914 individuals were arrested, and 25,174 firearms were recovered, surrendered, or confiscated due to violations of Republic Act 10591 and additional 15,191 firearms were voluntarily turned in for safekeeping, and 5,049 cases were filed in court.
The campaign against illegal drugs has produced a total of 37,801 operations and resulted in the arrest of 48,454 individuals and a significant seizure of illegal drugs estimated at P9.7 billion.
