Amid recent violence, Palace insists crime rate in PH dropped

National

MALACAÑANG maintained that the country's crime rate continues to decline despite a recent series of criminal incidents.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro cited Philippine National Police (PNP) data showing a 20.6 percent drop in the crime rate as of July this year.

"Alam po natin at kari-report lamang din po ng PNP na iyong crime rate ay bumaba ng 20.6% from 9,506 cases from January 6 to April 5, to 7,883 cases from April 6 to July 4 (We know, and the PNP recently reported, that the crime rate decreased by 20.6%—from 9,506 cases recorded from January 6 to April 5, down to 7,883 cases from April 6 to July 4)," Castro said during a briefing on Monday, July 20, per a report by Manila Bulletin.

While emphasizing the decline in crime, Malacañang said the government "does not take pleasure" in the recent spate of criminal incidents.

Castro, however, noted that PNP data does not fully reflect the public perception that the country is less safe than during the previous administration.

She said crimes tend to receive greater public attention because of news coverage, while some areas across the country continue to report no criminal incidents.

The Palace official assured the public that the PNP continues to take necessary measures to protect Filipinos and respond to criminal incidents.(Mary Elaine Virtucio, UP Cebu Comm Intern)

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