By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday stressed that the peace and order situation in the Philippines” is not only stable but has also dramatically improved” under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla issued the statement in response to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “alarming assertion” about the alleged rise of drug-related crimes in the country.
Remulla refuted the former president’s claims that the end of the previous administration’s war on drugs in mid-2022 allowed criminal elements to resurface.
He said such assertions, made during a Senate hearing on the previous administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign, stand in stark contrast to the comprehensive data provided by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Remulla cited reports submitted to President Marcos showing that the total number of recorded crimes from July 1, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2024 plummeted to 324,368, a 10.66% decrease from the 363,075 crimes recorded between Dec. 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022.
Notably, seven out of eight focus crimes have seen significant declines, including a reduction in rape (11.08%), physical injury (10.59%), robbery (2.26%), murder (10.17%), carnapping (23.27%), and homicide (0.91%).
The only exception is theft, which increased by 4.79%.
“In light of these verified statistics, the Department of Justice categorically dismisses the statements made by former president Duterte as anecdotal and lacking empirical support,” Remulla said.
“With utmost respect for former president Duterte’s leadership, we believe that his perception of an escalating crime rate does not reflect the reality supported by concrete data. The peace and order situation remains a top priority for the Marcos administration, and we are committed to assuring the Filipino people that our nation is on a path toward greater stability and security.”
Remulla added that the Marcos administration’s “commitment to maintaining peace and order is unwavering, and will continue to uphold the rule of law for the benefit of all Filipinos.”