PH crime volume drops by nearly 12% in September: PNP

FILE: Antipolo City checkpoint cops inspect the credentials of motorists along the Marikina-Infanta Highway in Antipolo City on Saturday (Aug. 7, 2021). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday reported a decrease of almost 12 percent in the number of eight focus crimes in September.

Speaking in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the onset of the last quarter of the year is showing encouraging signs of the continuing downtrend in index crimes based on the index crime data for August and September 2022.

The Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) showed a sharp decrease in index crimes by 11.98 percent — from 3,056 in August down to 2,690 in September.

The decrease in index crimes is noted in Luzon by 5.96 percent or 102 cases; the Visayas by 10.24 percent or 67 cases; and Mindanao by 28.47 percent or 197 cases.

Among the eight focus crimes, homicide, rape, and murder posted the biggest decreases during the August-September period at 26.09 percent, 25.99 percent, and 20.67percent, respectively.

Physical injury cases also posted a similar double-digit decline at 15 percent, while single-digit declines were posted among theft, robbery, and motorcycle theft.

Meanwhile, vehicle theft cases saw an increase of 5.88 percent.

“We remain optimistic that this downward trend of crime will prevail until the holiday season in December onwards to the New Year when maximum deployment of police and security personnel is expected in anticipation of increased public activities,” Azurin said.

Ensure safe ‘Undas’ observance

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed the PNP to sustain police visibility and enforce tighter measures against criminality in all potential spots of public convergence to ensure a safe and solemn observance of ‘Undas’.

“Ang inyo pong PNP ay patuloy ang paghahanda upang matiyak na ligtas ang pagbabyahe pauwi ng probinsya, paggunita ng Undas, at maging pagbabakasyon ng ating mga kababayan sa mga susunod na araw (The PNP is in the thick of preparations to ensure safe travel to provinces, observance of Undas, and the vacation travel of our fellowmen in the coming days),” DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said in a statement.

Abalos said the PNP will be closely working with local government units (LGUs) to carry out measures to ensure that the public will have a solemn and safe observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

As early as Oct. 11, the National Capital Region Police Office committed to deploying 10,000 police officers in public and private cemeteries as well as churches, malls, and public transportation terminals to ensure the peace and security of the people when they visit their deceased loved ones.

Abalos also urged LGUs to continue to remind the public to observe minimum public health standards (MPHS) in places of convergence such as cemeteries, churches, malls, and tourist spots to prevent a surge in coronavirus cases.

“Amid the more relaxed enforcement of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) protocols as compared to previous years, let us still be on guard because we are not yet completely out of the woods. Paalalahanan po natin ang mga mamamayan na mag-ingat pa rin at sumunod sa (Let’s remind the people to take precaution and continue to observe) MPHS,” he said.

The Manila City government earlier said children 12 years old and below and unvaccinated persons will not be allowed within the premises of cemeteries.

Firearms and sharp objects, videoke machines, alcoholic beverages, and any type of vehicle, among others, are also banned.