PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Tuesday assured the citizenry of their non-stop efforts to fight criminality as he revealed that the number of non-index crimes in the country significantly went down over the past three months.

Citing a report from the PNP’s Crime Research Analysis Center, the top cop said cases of non-index crimes dropped from July to October 8 this year.

Citing comparative crime data over the same period in 2021, the CRAC noted that the Non-Index Crimes went down by 3.88 percent or 1,971 from 50,740 to 48,769. Apparent was the decrease of Non-Index Crimes in Luzon and Mindanao by 3.53 percent or 942 and 10.79 percent or 1,669, respectively, the center said.

The same set of data revealed that total crime incidents notably went up in Luzon and Visayas by 10.27 percent or 5,988 and by 15.7 percent or 2,817, respectively. However, Mindanao saw a decrease of 4.09 percent.

Cases of theft, robbery and auto theft contributed largely to the number of crime incidents.

Overall, Azurin said the Peace and Order Indicator went down by 4.41 percent or 2,711 from 61,441 to 58,730. He explained that the POI reduction can be attributed to a decrease noted in Luzon and Mindanao. On the other hand, Visayas regions increased by 5.02 percent.

“These numbers will continue to guide our daily operation. The PNP is committed to achieving lasting peace despite the many challenges that come our way. Life is beautiful and we will make it happen. The public deserves to live in an environment of peace and security,” Azurin said.

The PNP chief challenged all police units and personnel to work harder to respond quickly to crime reports. He also batted for a continuing stepped up anti-criminality information drive to help arrest and prevent crimes.

The top cop last week congratulated the men and women of the 226,000-strong organization who have contributed well to the high approval rating given by the public to the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. during its 1st 100 days.

“Congratulations everyone on our efforts to bring peace and security to every Filipinos. I am certain we can still raise the bar and improve some more,” the top cop said in noting the Marcos administration’s high approval rating for its handling of several key issues including fighting criminality and law enforcement.

Results of a Pulse Asia survey released on Thursday last week showed that respondents gave the PBBM administration a 67 percent and 62 percent approval rating respectively when it comes to fighting criminality and law enforcement.

“Team work, unity of command and unity of direction for a common goal will give us better accomplishments! Aim high and we soar higher,” said Azurin as he maintained that every member of the PNP will always strive to work their best everyday, and with the help of all sectors in the community including the Church leaders, the vision of President Marcos Jr. for a robust economy will be a reality.

“Tulong tulong tayo para sa isang Maayos, Mapayapa at Maunlad na Pamayanan,” the PNP chief said.

According to Pulse Asia, the Marcos administration received majority approval ratings on 11 of the 13 issues on which its performance was assessed in September 2022.

Pulse Asia’s September 2022 Nationwide Survey on Urgent Concerns and the Performance Ratings of the National Administration on Selected Issues showed that appreciation was the majority sentiment toward the present administration’s work in the

following:–calamity response (78%); -controlling the spread of COVID-19 (78%;)

promoting peace in the country (69%) ; -protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (68%) ; -fighting criminality (67%) ;-law enforcement (62%); -creating more jobs (59%); -increasing workers’ pay (59%); -fighting graft and corruption in government (58%); -environment protection (57%); and -defense of the country’s territorial integrity (52%).

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted from September 17 to 21 and had 1,200 respondents nationwide.

Latest PNP records showed that from July 1 to October 6 this year—or the first 98-days of the PBBM presidency, police arrested 15,548 known drug personalities and seized an estimated P2.102 billion worth of shabu and marijuana.

Azurin told the Journal Group that during the 98-day period, the drug arrests and seizures were made by his men as a result of 13,076 anti-narcotics operations across the country.

During the same period, a total of 19 armed drug offenders were also killed in gunfights with undercover officers who tried to arrest them in buy-bust operations and service of search warrants.

Azurin said that a notable PNP accomplishment during the period was the seizure of more than 227 kilograms of high-grade shabu and over 438 kilos of dried marijuana leaves which could have flooded the streets of Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Police also uprooted and destroyed over 2.6 million pieces of fully-grown marijuana plants and seedlings in the countryside during the period, Last week, the PNP-DEG also spearheaded an anti-narcotics operation in Manila which resulted in the seizure of nearly P6.7 billion worth of shabu and the arrest of nine suspects led by an active policeman.

The police force, spearheaded by the PNP Drug Enforcement Group headed by Brigadier Gen. Narciso D. Domingo and the 17 other Police Regional Offices led by the National Capital Region Police Office under Brig. Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo made the significant anti-drug accomplishments.

Azurin has also commended the PNP-DEG for making a huge dent on the illegal drugs industry in the country without having to shoot suspects.

The PNP chief has called on his men to be guided by their peace and security framework dubbed “MKK=K” or “Malasakit, Kaayusan, Kapayaaan tungo sa Kaunlaran” and the KASIMBAYANAN program or “Kapulisan, Simbahan at Pamayanan” as they work in unison to realize the government’s aspiration of a much safer, peaceful, more progressive and stronger equitable society.

He has always maintained that sending drug traffickers and other criminals to jail and not killing them remains a police priority under the new Marcos administration.

According to the PNP chief, he is of the belief that killing a criminal will just help him end his sufferings while being hunted by the law. “Pero pag na-convict mo ang isang criminal, say for 30 years in jail, araw-araw na pagsisisihan niya ang krimeng nagawa niya ang kung sakaling lumaya pa siya, is he going back to his old ways,” he added.