Metro Manila crime rate down

MANILA, Philippines - The weekly crime rate in Metro Manila was reduced to fewer than 400 cases, down by 60 percent from the more 1,000 cases recorded since June last year, a police official said yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said the number of crimes in the metropolis was listed at 381 from Feb. 23 to March 1, and 393 from March 2 to March 8.

Valmoria attributed the low crime rate in Metro Manila to the checkpoint operations and fielding of additional policemen in crime-prone areas.

The Metro police chief congratulated his five district directors and 38 station commanders for a job well done.

“We have reduced the crime incidents in the metropolis but we should not lower our guard. Let us work harder to make Metro Manila a safer place to live in,” Valmoria said in an interview.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas had ordered a no-nonsense drive against crime in Metro Manila.

Four district directors and 14 station commanders have been sacked for being remiss on their job.

According to Valmoria, the crime rate in the metropolis was pegged at 1,013 cases monthly but they were able to reduce the number of crimes after nine months.

The NCRPO recorded 456 crime incidents from Feb. 9 to 15, and 447 cases from Feb. 16 to 22.

The number of motorcycle thefts also went down from 47 cases from Feb. 23 to March 1 to 35 cases from March 2 to 8, Valmoria said.

“I’m satisfied with the outcome of our hard work,” he said.

The NCRPO chief urged his district directors and station commanders to do more to reduce further the crime rate in the metropolis.

Valmoria and top police officials in Metro Manila would meet today at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City to reassess their anti-crime campaign.