Index crimes down 13% from Jan. 1 to Nov. 8: PNP

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported a 13.51 percent drop in index crimes in the first 10 months of 2024.

In a recent press briefing held at Camp Crame, Philippine National Police (PNP) information chief and spokesperson Brig Gen. Jean Fajardo said 30,322 index crime incidents were recorded from Jan. 1 to Nov. 8, lower than the 35,057 committed during the same period last year.

Over the period, the police force also recorded 30,166 focus crime incidents, 13.52 percent lower than the 34,883 incidents logged in the same period in 2023.

Classified as focus crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, theft, robbery, vehicle theft, and motorcycle theft.

However, motor vehicle theft has increased by 1.42 percent or 1,714 compared to 1,690 in the same period last year. Homicide cases also rose to 995, 3.65 percent more than the 960 recorded last year.

Fajardo said the number of cybercrime cases in the country dropped by 5.75 percent in the third quarter of this year compared to the first six months of the year.

Citing the latest data, Fajardo said 3,494 cybercrime cases were recorded from July to September this year compared to 3,707 in the second quarter, and 4,354 in the first quarter.

According to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, cybercrimes, such as online scams, showed a downtrend, which it attributed to its improved enforcement and awareness campaigns.

Earlier, Fajardo said the police force has committed to allocating more resources and enhancing capabilities to combat the growing threat of cyber-related offenses.

She attributed the continuing decrease in incidents to the consistent implementation of numerous policies, including intensified police visibility, intelligence-driven operations, community-based programs, strengthened partnerships with other agencies, and improved crime reporting and monitoring systems, among others.

She said PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil's directive is to continuously implement police interventions to maintain the decreasing crime rate, especially with the upcoming holiday season.

"At ang kaiblin-bilinan niya sa mga commanders is to strictly supervise yung ating mga tauhan sa baba dahil ang sinasabi ng ating chief PNP itong ating mga subordinates, yung ating mga foot patrols lalong-lalo na sila yung representation ng PNP. So, dapat makitaan sila na mismong sila ang tapat sa tungkulin kasi kung ano yung gagawin nung mga nasa baba nagre-reflect yan sa kabuuan ng PNP (His guidance to commanders is to strictly supervise the ground personnel, because he said the subordinates, the foot patrols, represent the PNP. So, the public should see that they are faithful to the service, because what they do on the ground would reflect on the whole PNP)," Fajardo said.

Meanwhile, from Jan. 1 to Nov. 2, the PNP arrested 49,621 drug offenders in 40,351 police operations that resulted in the seizure of P19.29 billion worth of illegal drugs.

Fajardo said Marbil's directive is to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs in close collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, as emphasized by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

On Tuesday, the President met with officials of the PNP, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to formulate strategies on how to strengthen the country's fight against dangerous narcotics and other illicit substances.

Since assuming office, Marcos veered away from his predecessor's controversial drug war that was marred by alleged human rights abuses and vigilante-style killings.

Marcos initiated a bloodless approach that is focused on reformation and drug prevention. (PNA)