MANILA — Despite a string of high-profile crimes making headlines in recent weeks, Malacañang has maintained that the country’s overall crime rate is actually on the decline.
Citing data from the Philippine National Police, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the country recorded fewer crimes in recent months. According to Castro, the crime rate dropped by 20.6%, falling to 7,883 cases between April 6 and July 4, down from 9,506 cases recorded between January 6 and April 5.
Castro explained that high-profile incidents naturally draw public attention simply because they make the news, which is why certain cases tend to stand out despite the broader downward trend.
Even with the lower overall crime rate, Castro said the government remains far from satisfied with the crimes that have occurred. She said the PNP continues to work harder to fulfill its mandate of protecting communities and improving response times to incidents.
The statement comes amid recent reports of a political vlogger and an American marine biologist being killed, cases that have drawn significant public attention.
Castro noted that while such cases are visible because they’re widely reported, the PNP has also identified areas across the Philippines where no crimes have been reported at all, underscoring what she described as a more favorable overall national picture. She assured the public that police are doing their best to respond to the security needs of Filipinos nationwide.
