NCRPO says low crime rate in ongoing Luzon-wide community quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — Crime rate in Metro Manila has dropped by 67.6 percent since the enhanced community quarantine was enforced in Luzon, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Saturday.

Based on records from the NCRPO, there were 766 criminal incidents that were reported in Metro Manila from March 15 to March 20, as compared to the 2,367 incidents recorded for the same period last year.

In a press briefing,  NCRPO chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said incidents of theft, robbery, and rape significantly decreased as Metro Manila residents stayed at their homes following the enforcement of the quarantine.

“Kasi ang karamihan sa mga publiko ay nasa bahay nila na-lessen ang crime particularly theft and robbery sila ang pinakamaraming (bumaba) at saka rape,” Sinas said.

(Most of our residents are under strict home quarantine so crime incidents particularly theft, robbery decreased, as well as rape.)

Data showed that incidents of rape decreased by 78.3 percent from 23 incidents reported in 2019 to just five during the first days of the quarantine.

Robbery incidents meanwhile dropped from 50 in 2019 to 18 incidents.

Theft incidents dropped by 64.7 percent from 68 last year to 24 in the initial days of the quarantine period.

Meanwhile, the number of non-index crimes was down by 15.3 percent while traffic incidents decreased by 83.3 percent.

The community quarantine was imposed over Metro Manila on March 15 after the number of cases of coronavirus disease continue to increase.

The Philippine government placed the entire Luzon under enhanced community quarantine on March 17 in a bid to prevent the community transmission of COVID-19. The quarantine will be in effect until midnight of April 13.

/MUF