Crimes in PH down by 8% from January to October
THE country’s crime rate from January to October this year has gone down by as much as 8 percent compared to the same period last year amid the measures launched by the Philippine National Police headed by General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., the Journal Group learned.
Official records from the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management’s Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System showed that during the 1st10 months of 2023, there were a total of 31,864 crimes against persons and property. The number is 2,383 incidents lower than the same period last year.
“We can attribute this sa paglalatag ng magandang seguridad nationwide, to the growing numbers of our force multipliers, to our vigilant citizenry,” said PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean S. Fajardo.
The official said they would again need the help of their ‘force multipliers’ which include private security guards, barangay peacekeeping officers and other volunteers in keeping criminality down, particularly for the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.
The sharp reduction in the crime volume from January 1 to October 31 was attributed to the PNP’s intensive crackdown against criminality and effective police-community partnership.
Col. Fajardo said the comprehensive report from the CIRAS of the PNP-DIDM provides undeniable evidence of a significant decline in the country’s crime rate during the 1st 10 months of the year compared to the same period in 2022.
With statistics sourced from the 17 Police Regional Offices nationwide, the official said it highlights a remarkable reduction in various crime indices and confirms the resounding success of the PNP’s intensified operational efforts.
The report paints an impressive picture of the efforts made by the PNP as it showcases an 8.24 percent decrease in Index Crime Volume and an overall 8.18 percent reduction in focus crimes such as murder, robbery, theft, rape, physical injury and carnapping.
The top cop emphasized the importance of these results, saying “these promising outcomes stand as a clear testament to the tireless and coordinated efforts of the Philippine National Police.”
“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,” he said.
The comprehensive report not only focused on the decline in various crime categories but also sheds light on the PNP’s operational achievements throughout the period.
Key campaigns against cybercrimes, carnapping, wanted individuals and loose firearms carried out over the past 10 months of 2023 showcased significant progress.
The statistics likewise presented a series of successful operations, arrests, recovered assets and cases filed.
For instance, 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, boasting an impressive recovery efficiency of 71.76 percent.
Additionally, 972 suspects were arrested, and 542 cases have been filed in court during the period.
The PNP’s efforts against wanted persons during the period also resulted in the voluntary surrender of 341 individuals, along with an impressive 63,486 arrests.
Moreover, 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 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.
An additional 15,191 firearms were also voluntarily turned in for safekeeping and 5,049 cases were filed in court.
In the campaign against illegal drugs, police conducted a total of 37,801 operations during the period resulting in the arrest of 48,454 individuals and the seizure of illegal drugs estimated at P9,731,467,292.96.
Furthermore, in response to the rising threat of cybercrime, the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group implemented various strategies to combat the menace.
From January to October 2023, these measures included 12 search warrant operations, 23 implementations of warrants to search, seize and examine computer data, 238 service of warrants of arrest, and 170 entrapment operations.
Those operations resulted in the arrest of 732 individuals and the rescue of 4,096 victims.
