By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief PLTGEN. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. reported on Saturday that the country’s overall crime rate declined by 12.4% in 2025 compared to 2024.
Based on official records from the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, focus crimes decreased from 40,771 incidents in 2024 to 35,717 last year, or 5,054 fewer cases year on year.
Focus crimes are murder, homicide, rape, physical injury, theft, robbery, and motor vehicle and motorcycle theft.
Data further showed that most major crime categories posted significant reductions, led by rape, which registered the highest decrease at 22.68%, dropping from 9,910 cases in 2024 to 7,662 in 2025.
This was followed by motor vehicle theft, which declined by 20.18%, from 332 in 2024 to 265 last year.
Murder cases decreased by 17.8%, from 4,151 to 3,412, while homicide cases slid by 14.98%, from 1,268 to 1,078 incidents.
Physical injury cases also went down by 13.98%, from 5,593 to 4,811, and robbery by 11.87%, from 4,136 to 3,645 cases.
Meanwhile, theft recorded a 4.31% decrease, from 13,232 cases in 2024 to 12,662 in 2025.
A comparison of two equal 128-day periods in 2025 further showed a sustained downward trend in crime, with incidents decreasing by 11.64%, from 13,307 cases recorded between April 19 and Aug. 25 to 11,758 cases from Aug. 26 to Dec. 31, or 1,549 fewer incidents as of Jan. 2, 2026.
Nartatez said the sustained decrease in crime reflects the effectiveness of the PNP’s Focused Agenda, coupled with the collective efforts of police units nationwide.
“Malinaw po sa mga numerong ito na epektibo ang ating PNP Focused Agenda. Ito ay resulta ng mas pinalakas na police presence, mas mabilis na pagtugon, at mas maayos na ugnayan ng pulisya at ng ating mga komunidad,” he said in a statement.
Nartatez noted that the gains recorded in 2025 were achieved through the consistent implementation of crime prevention and law enforcement strategies on the ground.
“Ang bawat pagbaba ng kaso ay katumbas ng mas ligtas na komunidad. Pero hindi po tayo titigil dito. Tuloy-tuloy lang ang trabaho,” he added.
Looking ahead to 2026, the PNP leadership assured the public that law enforcement efforts will be further intensified to sustain and improve the country’s crime environment, with a stronger emphasis on crime prevention and crime solution strategies.
“Sa 2026, mas paiigtingin pa natin ang ating mga hakbang para pigilan ang krimen at siguraduhing mananagot ang mga gumagawa nito. Ito ang diwa ng Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas – Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman,” Nartatez Jr. said.
