Crimes vs persons drop in Metro

MANILA, Philippines—Murder, homicide and physical injury incidents in Metro Manila have gone down in previous weeks by around 30 percent with the Eastern Police District (EPD) posting the highest decrease in the number of cases.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), there was a decline of 32 percent in crimes against persons based on the data gathered from March 9 to 22.

From March 16 to 22, there were 23 such cases in Metro Manila, down from the previous week’s 34 incidents.

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the decrease may be attributed to the ongoing “Oplan Lambat Sibat” operations which targets wanted persons and criminal gangs.

“Statistics-wise, there is a significant decrease in crimes against persons. But it does not mean that we are not neglecting other types of crimes; we are continuously addressing crimes in Metro Manila,” the police official said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Tuesday.

The EPD recorded the highest decrease in crimes against persons, going down to one incident in Marikina City from the previous week’s six cases.

It was followed by the Quezon City Police District and the Manila Police District, which both recorded four cases compared to the previous week’s six.

“This is the result of the effective and efficient implementation of increased checkpoints, patrols, intensified serving of arrest warrants and the deployment of policemen [to] densely populated areas, especially this Holy Week,” said PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina. Julie M. Aurelio