DILG: Crime rate lower under Marcos compared to Duterte

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded a lower crime rate during the first 21 months of the Marcos administration compared to the same period under former President Rodrigo Duterte.

- HELEN FLORES, Janvic Mateo

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said the peace and order situation in the country "has improved with a much lower index crime volume" from 196,519 from the pre-pandemic period of July 1, 2016 to April 21, 2018 to 71,544 from July 1, 2022 to April 21, 2024.

Abalos made the report during the National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) and Regional Peace and Order Council meeting presided by President Marcos at Malacañang on Thursday, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

Peace and order indicators went down for the same periods from 541,917 from July 1, 2016 to April 21, 2018 to 371,801 from July 1, 2022 to April 21, 2024, Abalos, who also chairs the NPOC, said.

Average monthly crime rate also decreased for the same periods, respectively from 21.92 to 15.04. Focus crimes such as theft, physical injury, robbery, rape, murder, carnapping and homicide also dropped from 196,420 to 71,133 or 63.79 percent decrease.

Non-index crime volume also decreased from 345,398 from July 1, 2016 to April 21, 2018 to 300,257 from July 1, 2022 to April 21, 2024, the DILG chief said.