Crime incidents in the National Capital Region, where 13 million of the country’s 110 million population live, decreased by about 17 percent from November 2021 to January 2022, the Philippine National Police said Sunday.
In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, newly-appointed PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo noted the crime statistics in Metro Manila were recorded from November 20, 2021 to January 23, 2022.
Fajardo said among the eight focus crimes, there was a big decrease in the cases of physical injuries, theft, and robbery.
“Almost all of the focus crimes in Metro Manila had gone down, and we are also seeing this trend in other regions,” Fajardo said.
According to the PNP, the eight focus crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, and motorcycle theft and carnapping.
Fajardo said this improved data could be attributed to the quarantine restrictions and measures being implemented in the country due to COVID-19.
“We could attribute this decrease in crime incidents to the restrictions and curbs on movements, and of course, the increased police visibility in almost all areas in the country,” she said.
The PNP earlier reported that crime incidents in the Philippines also had gone down by 20 percent from December 1 to 27, 2021.
But Fajardo said the PNP would not be complacent because increase in crime incidents might go up in the leadup to the May 9 national and local polls.