The crime rate in Metro Manila fell by as much as 50 percent following the government’s implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, which imposed curfew hours and set up police and military checkpoints on the roads, Malacañang said Friday.
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo advised the public not to believe in the reports on social media that robbery and burglary were rising in some areas, saying such reports were false.
“There is a proliferation of false narratives about the supposed increase in the number of crimes amid the implementation of [the] month-long enhanced community quarantine in Luzon,” Panelo said.
“We denounce the proliferation of such false narratives. We ask the citizenry to be discerning on what they read on social media and not to readily believe them.”
Panelo made his statement even as the Philippine National Police intensified its operations against people taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, arresting three people selling hoarded and overpriced Ethyl Alcohol in Manila and Caloocan City on Thursday.
PNP Spokesman Bernard Banac said the three suspects were arrested after selling overpriced alcohol to police agents and personnel from the Department of Trade and Industry in two separate operations in Sangandaan, Caloocan City and Bambang in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation said Friday it was investigating the allegations of hoarding and overpricing of commodities.
The NBI said this was now one of the main priorities in its enforcement operations amid the Luzon-wide quarantine due to COVID-19.
“NBI still accepts complaints and conducts raids and arrests criminals and will continue this nationwide,” NBI Director Eric Distor said.
Panelo said The PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group was now tracking down the fake-news peddlers who claimed that some workers affected by the Luzon-wide quarantine were being forced to steal food and money.
Panelo issued the statement after PNP chief Archie Gamboa received fake reports of robberies and burglaries in some areas in Luzon.
He said “fake and alarming” news of alleged crimes were creating panic and fear among the people.
“We encourage our people to keep calm and stay vigilant. Rest assured that the government is here to protect everyone and is working for their safety and well-being,” he said.
Panelo urged the public to report to law enforcement agencies any crime through mobile phone numbers 0917-312-5626 and 0998-894-0013; landline number 725-3176; or the e-mail address [email protected]. With Francisco Tuyay and Willie Casas