The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said focus crimes nationwide dropped by 12 percent during the first month of the government’s Safer Cities Initiative, which aims to strengthen peace and order through stricter law enforcement and increased police visibility.
In a statement, the PNP-Public Information Office said 2,684 focus crimes were recorded from April 6 to May 6, lower by 363 cases compared to the 3,047 incidents logged from March 6 to April 5.
The eight focus crimes monitored by the PNP include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, car theft, and motorcycle theft.
Among the most significant declines were rape cases, which fell by 25 percent from 519 to 387 incidents, and physical injury cases, which dropped by 24.3 percent from 489 to 370.
The Safer Cities Initiative, launched by Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, calls for the strict enforcement of local ordinances and increased police deployment in public areas.
As part of the program, additional police personnel were stationed near schools during class hours and in other high-traffic areas to enhance public safety and deter criminal activity.
PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. credited the decline in crime to the continued efforts of police officers across the country.
“We will not stop until the people feel more secure in their areas,” Nartatez said.
He added that the PNP would continue strengthening its operational readiness and investigative capabilities to sustain the gains of the anti-crime campaign.
“As your PNP, we will continue to improve our operations and ensure that our people feel safe in their homes, workplaces, and communities,” he said.
“Our goal is simple — a police organization that the public can trust and rely on every day,” the PNP chief added.