MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Benjamin Acorda and National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said among the key milestones of President Bongbong Marcos’ first year in office include the decline in the country’s crime rate and its strengthened national security.
In an ambush interview at the Batasang Pambansa, Acorda said Marcos could cite in his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) the country’s declining crime rate.
“With regards to the crime rate, talagang bumababa ang crime rate [sa bansa]. Talagang nagsusumikap ang ating mga kapulisan. Sana tuloy-tuloy ang sinasabi kong pagtutulungan,” Acorda told reporters.
(With regards to the country’s crime rate, it has really declined. Our police officers are really working hard. I hope we continue to work hand-in-hand.)
In May 2023, Acorda bared that crimes nationwide have dropped to 13,469 cases from January to May. Data from PNP showed that there were 15,064 cases in the same period last year.
READ: PNP: Index crimes in PH down by 10% from January to May 2023
Meanwhile, in a separate ambush interview at the complex, Defense Secretary Teodoro said Marcos’ first year in office has opened doors for the revitalization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“Ang maipagmamalaki talaga ay ang patuloy na pag-igting ng ating kapabilidad bilang Armed Forces of the Philippines at [pagpapatuloy] ng mga programa to stabilize national security,” said Teodoro.
(What we can really be proud of is the continuous strengthening of the AFP and the continuous establishment of programs to stabilize national security.)
“Yan ang mga milestone na pinagsisikapan natin sa ngayon,” he added.
(These are the milestones that we have been striving to achieve for now.)
According to Teodoro, Marcos “explicitly instructed” the department to concentrate on external defense as well.
For Marcos’ second year in office, Teodoro said he is expecting the President to “once again reaffirm” the country’s commitment to defend its territorial integrity.
Teodoro’s vision likewise includes the modernization of AFP’s equipment, as well as its human capital resources in defense establishments.
Marcos is set to deliver his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 24 at the Batasang Pambansa complex.
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