PNP rejects China travel warning, notes 16.5% drop in crime rate

FEWER CRIMES. Philippine National Police (PNP) information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño holds a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday (Sept. 1, 2025). Tuaño refuted the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s claim that public security in the country is worsening, saying the number of focus crime incidents —including murder, homicide, rape and carnapping— during the first eight months of 2025 was lower compared to the same period last year. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday refuted China’s claim that public security in the Philippines is “worsening,” noting the drop in crime rate in the first eight months of the year.

“Our crime situation in the Philippines is not worsening because based on our data, there is a 16.5 percent decrease [in crime rate],” PNP information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said in a press briefing.

Tuaño said there were 22,519 focus crime incidents recorded from Jan. 1 to Aug. 28, 2025, lower than the 26,969 recorded during the same period last year.

Focus crimes include murder, homicide, rape, physical injury, carnapping of motorcycles and motor vehicles, and theft.

In a post on X on Sunday night, the Chinese Embassy in Manila reminded Chinese citizens in the Philippines to closely monitor local security, exercise increased caution, strengthen self-protection measures, avoid high-risk areas, and ensure personal and property safety.

It also advised those intending to visit the Philippines to conduct careful risk assessments first.

“Recently, public security in the Philippines has been worsening, with increasing crimes targeting Chinese nationals,” it added.

Tuaño said acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered the Directorate for Intelligence to coordinate with the Chinese Embassy to get the basis of its advisory.

“We will follow proper channels and procedures. We will get the exact details because the instruction of the chief PNP is not to make a guess of what they feel and instead, coordinate with them to know their sentiments,” Tuaño said.

He said according to PNP data, there were 21 cases of kidnapping recorded from January to August wherein both the victims and the perpetrators were Chinese nationals.