PNP: Crime volume down 2.84%

MANILA, Philippines — The crime volume in the country has dropped by nearly three percent, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

PNP data showed that there were 36,806 focus crimes from Jan. 1 to Dec. 9 compared to 37,881 in 2021, a decrease of 2.84 percent.

Murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, vehicle theft, motorcycle theft and rape are focus crimes.

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the Visayas registered the biggest drop in crimes at six percent followed by Mindanao, three percent, and Luzon, 1.24 percent.

Azurin said theft in public places is among the most common crimes.

“Pinag-iingat natin ang ating mga kababayan especially sa mga convergence areas,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

The PNP will be on full alert at the start of the nine-day simbang gabi or dawn mass on Friday.

Personnel of the Special Action Force and Regional Mobile Force Battalions nationwide are also on full alert to thwart attacks by communist insurgents as the Communist Party of the Philippines will mark its anniversary on Dec. 26.

Azurin said his Christmas wish is for crimes to continue to drop during the Yuletide season.

He ordered all police commanders to beef up the presence of their personnel in areas of convergence.

All vacation leaves of police officers are canceled starting tomorrow to maximize police visibility.