MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde on Monday dismissed the report of a United States-based research group ranking the Philippines as the fourth most dangerous country for civilians.
In debunking the report of the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled) dated July 3, Albayalde cited the 2019 HSBC Expat’s annual survey that ranked the country as the 24th best place worldwide to live and work. The US ranked 23rd while China ranked 26th in the survey.
READ: US-based data group ranks PH fourth most dangerous place in the world for civilians
“I think that is unfounded. That cannot be covered by data. I don’t know how they were able to say that. What’s their basis for saying that?” Albayalde said in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Albayalde then said that the group may have based their report from data from local sources who want to bring the government down.
He lamented the “very unfortunate” situation where fellow Filipinos would supposedly report false data on local issues to international groups.
If Acled’s report was true, the country would then be full of chaos, which is not the case, according to Albayalde.
“That’s why we challenge these people to come here and live here and see for themselves how peaceful the Philippines is,” the PNP chief said.
A report of Acled for January 1 to June 29 also alleged that 75 percent of civilian deaths are due to the government’s drug war. Another 18 percent, meanwhile, were current or former government officials killed in political rivalries.
Albayalde also dismissed this claim, lamenting how some groups highlight the 6,600 deaths in the drug war instead of the 240,565 drug personalities arrested from June 2016 until May 2019.
He also noted that the midterm election last May was among the most peaceful polls in Philippine history, with only 60 election-related violent incidents recorded nationwide. /ee
READ: PNP: 60 violent incidents recorded from Jan. 13 to June 6