PNP: Christmas celebration in 2018 safer than in past

Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (Photo from the PNP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Christmas celebration of 2018 turned out to be more peaceful and safer compared to previous years, according to numbers released by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday.

In a statement, Director General Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, said there were significant reductions in the number of injuries due to firecrackers, indiscriminate firing and illegal discharge of firearms.

On the other hand, the number of illegal firecrackers seized went up, Albayalde said.

“This year’s Christmas celebration, during the period from 16 to 25 December, is generally safe and peaceful compared to the same period last year,” he said. “There is a 75% reduction of injuries due to firecrackers; 70% reduction in indiscriminate firing and illegal discharge of firearms and 1,000% increase in seizure of illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics.”

Albayalde further said that in Metro Manila — where most crimes usually occur during the holidays — had also seen a downward trend in its crime index.

He said that these improvements can be attributed to the police campaign for the holidays.

“This year in Metro Manila alone, where crimes usually increase during the holiday season, had seen significant reduction in crime incidents compared to the same period of last year,” he said.

“This was largely due to the intensified anti-criminality and public safety campaign launched by the PNP through its Ligtas Paskuhan 2018 and the support and cooperation of Filipinos throughout the country,” he said. /atm