THE Philippine National Police’s (PNP) aggressive law enforcement operations specifically its campaign against illegal drug trafficking and abuse and the massive increase in efficiency of solving crimes led to a whopping 64 percent reduction in crime in the country in the past five years of the Duterte administration, PNP chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar told the Journal Group.

The top cop explained that crime prevention and the efficiency in solving crime serve as the barometers of the success and failure of the police in accomplishing its mandate of maintaining peace and order and protecting the people from criminal and terrorist elements.

Gen. Eleazar stressed that the PNP has been consistently doing well in the past five years in crime prevention and solution.

According to him, the PNP Crime Solution Efficiency (CSE) increased by 85.94 percent while Crime Clearance Efficiency (CCE) went up to 80.87 percent from July 2016 to June 2021 compared to the records of the PNP during the previous Aquino administration from July 2010 to June 2015.

“We in the PNP believe that one of the best ways to deter a crime is the assurance that the offender will be identified and arrested and that they would be charged and convicted,” said Gen. Eleazar.

“Naniniwala kami na ang pagtaas ng Crime Solution Efficiency and Crime Clearance Efficiency are forms of crime prevention themselves because they send a strong message to the people that they would certainly be held accountable if they violate the law,” he added.

CSE and CCE

CSE refers to the percentage of solved cases out of the total number of crime incidents for a given period of time.

A case is considered solved if the offender has been arrested and a criminal complaint has been filed. In case of at least two offenders, it is still considered solved if one of them has been arrested and was slapped with appropriate case/s.

The PNP recorded a 48.89 percent increase in its CSE from July 2016 to June 2021 compared to 26.29 percent from July 2010 to June 2021. This means an 85.94 percent increase in CSE.

CCE is the percentage of cleared cases out of the total number of crime incidents.

From only 37.81 percent from July 2010 to June 2015, PNP data disclosed that its CCE went up to 68.40 percent from July 2016 to June 2021 or an 80.87 percent increase.

“Ibig sabihin nito, mas maraming kriminal ang napapanagot natin sa nakalipas na limang taon. Ito naman ay pinagtuunan talaga namin ng pansin dahil naniniwala ako na isa sa epektibong paraan ng crime prevention ay ang katiyakan na maaaresto at mapapanagot ang mga taong lalabag sa ating mga batas,” Gen. Eleazar emphasized.