Remulla hails PNP as crime rate drops 62% under Marcos admin

MANILA – The Philippines' crime rate dropped 62 percent during the first two years of the Marcos administration, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.

In a statement, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded 83,059 incidents from July 1, 2022 to July 28, 2024, way lower compared to 217,830 incidents reported in the same period from 2016 to 2018.

Remulla also cited the PNP's crime clearance efficiency rate and crime solution efficiency rate, which improved at 27 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

The DILG chief lauded the police force for these achievements, which he said were reached through hard work and dedication of law enforcement officers across the country.

"These significant feats are a testament to the unrelenting commitment of the PNP to continuously serve and protect the public from criminality and lawlessness," Remulla said.

"With this positive development, the DILG urges the PNP to continuously fulfil their sworn duties as vanguards of peace and order towards a safe and peaceful Bagong Pilipinas."

On Monday, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in his first appearance in a congressional inquiry on his administration's controversial anti-drug campaign, claimed that crimes were increasing again.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin refuted Duterte's claim, saying that there has been "widespread decline in crime across the board," citing PNP data. (PNA)