Police Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday said Naga City, a known bailiwick of Vice President Leni Robredo, is the fifth major city in the country with the highest crime rate.
“Among the major cities in the country, Naga City has consistently ranked number five in terms of crime volume in the first semester of 2017 and 2018,” he told reporters in a press briefing.
The PNP chief stressed that he “never disagreed” with President Rodrigo Duterte on the crime and drugs situation in the city.
Duterte earlier called Naga a shabu “hotbed,” apparently taking a potshot at the leadership ability of Robredo.
READ: Duterte rejects Robredo as successor, says Naga a ‘hotbed of shabu’
But Albayalde said he was only referring to the crime situation in Naga City. He stressed that it is just an “assumption” that the crime rate is “interrelated” with the alleged proliferation of drugs in the city.
“If the assumption is that crime and drugs are interrelated, we can rightfully make our own conclusion,” he said.
Albayalde said the Philippine National Police is yet to clarify the amount of drugs confiscated in the city.
Other cities with the most number of crimes outside Metro Manila are Santiago, Angeles, Olongapo, and Puerto Princesa.
Albayalde added that the Bicol Region, where Naga City is located, also ranked as the fifth region in the country with the highest crime volume.
Earlier, he said the shabu (crystal meth) trade runs in Naga City, but he denied that the city is the place where illegal drugs trade is most rampant. /ee
READ: Albayalde clarifies ‘shabu hotbed’ tag on Naga City