MANILA, Philippines—Crime is going down while police efficiency against crime is going up, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Playing down perceptions of a crime wave, PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. pointed to a downward trend in criminal incidents throughout the country since the start of the year.
Records of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management showed a sharp decline in index crimes in January compared to the same period last year, Cruz said.
Index crimes, which include crimes against persons such as murder, homicide and rape, and crimes against property such as theft and robbery, are valid indicators of the prevailing crime situation in the country, Cruz said.
Index crime incidents fell 20.01 percent from the 14,227 cases recorded in January last year to 11,379 cases in January this year, he said in a statement issued Friday.
“Contrary to opinionated perceptions of a crime wave, factual and verifiable records in the form of crime statistics say otherwise,” Cruz said.