Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/Philippine News Agency
The crime volume nationwide has declined by 10 percent for the month of May compared to the same month last year as a result of an intensified drive against crime and lawlessness.
Records from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management revealed that the total crime volume in May 2019 is 38,284 as compared to 42,527 for the same period last year.
The PNP data also showed a 22.6 percent drop in index crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping, and cattle rustling — from 7,421 in May 2018 to 5,744 in May 2019.
Meanwhile, non-index crimes dropped by 7.31 percent from 35,106 to 32,540. Non-index crimes refer to cases of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, reckless imprudence resulting to physical injury, reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property, violation of special laws, among others.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año lauded the PNP for its unwavering commitment to curb criminality in the country.
“Congratulations, PNP, for making our streets safer and making our people feel more secure. I urge you to continue your anti-crime initiatives with greater vigor and zeal,” Año said in a statement on Sunday.
Año, likewise, commended the PNP for its efforts to rid its ranks of erring and corrupt police personnel, which he believes restores public trust in government.
“I would like to commend the PNP for its internal cleansing program aimed to rid its ranks from misfits and scalawags. Napakalaki na ng naitutulong ng PNP sa hangarin nating maibalik muli ang tiwala at pagmamahal ng mga tao sa pamahalaan (The PNP has helped a lot our goal of bringing back the people’s trust and love to the government),” he said.
Earlier, Año conferred the PNP Distinguished Service Medal to PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde for his invaluable service as the PNP’s Security Task Force 2019 overall commander during the May 13, 2019 mid-term elections.
“Through General Albayalde’s superb leadership and commitment, our entire police force became instrumental in ensuring that the 2019 mid-term elections transpired smoothly,” he said, adding that doing so is no easy feat given the volatile election culture in the Philippines.
According to Año, election-related violent incidents (ERVI) plunged by 60 percent during this year’s mid-term polls.
Data from the PNP shows that only 43 election-related violent incidents (ERVI) were recorded this year compared to the 106 incidents recorded in 2016.
Aside from Albayalde, the DILG also awarded the 10 PNP Marawi Crisis Commanders with Distinguished Conduct Medal for “ensuring that police units deployed during the siege perform at their best, either at ‘Ground Zero’ or at the immediate periphery of the city”.
