Crime volume up 5% in March – DILG

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MANILA, Philippines — The country’s crime incidents rose by over five percent in March, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Monday.

Año bared that there was a 1,584 increase in the number of total crimes from February to March.

“Ang ating total crime incident nung February ay 28,214. Kung titignan natin, sa Marso ay 29,798. So, mayroong 5.61 percent na pagtaas, additional 1,584,” he said on TeleRadyo’s Sakto.

(Our total crime incidents in February is 28,214. In March, it was 29,798. So, there is a 5.61 percent increase, an additional 1,584.)

“Kung titignan natin ‘yung index crime volume from 2,726 ay naging 2,841 o may dagdag na 115,” he continued.

(If we look at the index crime volume, from 2,726, it became 2,841 or an increase of 115.)

The interior chief cited the increase in the incidents of the following focus crimes:

Theft – from 921 to 995 incidents

Murder – from 292 to 328

Physical injury – from 336 to 386

Año attributed the increase of crime incidents to the easing of mobility as Metro Manila and several areas were placed under Alert Level 1 in March.

“So, although maliit lang ‘yung increase na ‘to pero ito’y siguro dahil sa pagluluwag natin, maraming mobility, naglabasan ‘yung mga tao kaya dapat mag-ingat pa rin,” he said.

(So, although this is just a small increase, it may be because of relaxing protocols, more mobility, people go out, so the public should always take extra care.)

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