Crime rate in Metro Manila down 24% in first 20 days of 2026 — PNP

The crime rate in Metro Manila went down 24% in the first 20 days of 2026 compared to the same period last year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported Friday.

"In Metro Manila for instance, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported a 24% decline in the first 20 days of 2026," the PNP said in a statement.

The NCRPO said crime trend data comparing January 1 to 20, 2025 with the same period in 2026 showed improvements in both violent and property-related crimes. 

"Significant reductions were noted in rape (-67%), carnapping of motor vehicles (-89%), and carnapping of motorcycles (-60%), alongside declines in murder (-32%), physical injuries (-10%), and theft (-4%)," the NCRPO said in a separate statement.

A total of 168,010 violators were apprehended, with 52,359 fined, 871 charged, and 114,948 warned and released, generating P48,035,730 in penalties for different offenses, according to the NCRPO.

NCRPO chief Police Major General Anthony Aberin attributed the gains to the consistent implementation of the PNP's Enhanced Managing Police Operations under its Focused Agenda, as well as the discipline and coordination of the regional personnel.

PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered personnel to keep the crime rate down.

"Maintaining peace and order is not only our mandate, we owe it to the Filipino people in every community for them to feel safe and secure in their home, in the streets and every place that they would go. This is what we trained for, and this is what we must do," Nartatez said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News