The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced a 12.86-percent drop in crime incidents, attributing the improvement to strengthened cooperation between law enforcement and local communities.
In a statement Friday, Dec. 12, Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., acting PNP chief, said that index crimes such as murder, homicide, rape, physical injury, vehicle and motorcycle theft, and general theft fell to 2,615 cases in November from 3,001 in October this year, marking a decrease of 386 cases.
Among the index crimes, rape fell by 35.27 percent, physical injury by 17.24 percent, and murder by 14.18 percent.
General theft also decreased by 9.38 percent, motorcycle theft saw a minor drop by 2.37 percent, and vehicle theft remained steady at 20 cases.
Meanwhile, also notable was the decrease in the number of cybercrime cases which fell by nearly 18 percent, the PNP said.
Nartatez attributed the decline to the PNP’s Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO) which emphasizes strategic beat patrols, rapid response, and data-driven operations.
“Our goal has always been to ensure that all our kababayan feel safe from inside their home up to the streets and communities, and feel assured that our personnel will always be there in emergency situations,” Nartatez said.
He lauded all police personnel, particularly those deployed on the ground, for their hard work and sacrifices that led to the decline in crime incidents.
“I commend all our personnel because the crime reduction in the month of November is a result of their hard work and sacrifices through beat patrols, strategic operations, and quick response,” the top cop said.
He also highlighted the role of local government units and “force multipliers” such as barangay tanods in preventing crime before it occurs.
Nartatez underscored that the PNP’s commitment goes beyond numbers.
“We will continue to pursue a proactive, data-driven, and community-centered approach. Our goal is not just to lower the crime rate but to ensure that every Filipino is safe, protected, and has peace of mind in their communities,” he said. (Martin Sadongdong)
