PH focus crimes drop nearly 30% in third quarter – PNP

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 06, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine National Police | Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Serious crimes monitored by the Philippine National Police declined by nearly 30 percent nationwide in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to the latest PNP figures.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said 7,233 focus crime incidents were recorded from July through September, down from 10,296 cases during the corresponding three months of 2025. That represents a 29.75-percent year-on-year decline. 

The PNP classifies eight offenses as focus crimes because of their seriousness and frequency: murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, motor vehicle carnapping and motorcycle carnapping. 

The decline became even more pronounced in September. Police recorded 2,063 focus crimes, 36 percent fewer than the 3,226 incidents reported in September 2025. 

The latest figures continue a downward trend reported by the PNP earlier this year. In July alone, focus crimes fell 36.12 percent year on year, from 3,458 cases to 2,209. June also recorded a 30.43-percent decrease compared with June 2025. 

For additional context, the PNP recorded 35,717 focus crimes throughout 2025, down 12.4 percent from 40,771 in 2024. The sharper third-quarter decline therefore represents an acceleration from the decrease recorded for the previous full year. 

Police officials attributed the latest reduction to continued crime-prevention programs, increased police operations and efforts targeting organized criminal groups and repeat offenders. That explanation is the PNP’s assessment of its own crime data, rather than an independently established cause of the decline. 

Separate law-enforcement figures showed police arrested 8,447 wanted persons in September, including 2,254 individuals classified as most wanted. The PNP also reported 3,140 anti-smuggling operations during the month, resulting in 564 arrests and the seizure of goods and other items valued at an estimated P1.36 billion. 

Efforts against unlicensed firearms also continued. Police said 979 people were arrested, while 6,381 firearms were accounted for and another 913 were surrendered for safekeeping during the reporting period. The PNP considers loose firearms a contributing factor in offenses including murder, homicide, physical injury and robbery.

The latest numbers measure recorded focus crimes, rather than every type of offense reported across the Philippines. They also compare the July-to-September period directly with the same three months of 2025.