PNP: Murder, rape cases down following 'Safer Cities' ops

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday reported a decline in cases of murder, homicide, physical injuries, and rape following the implementation of its “Safer Cities” initiative in Metro Manila.

At a press briefing, PNP Directorate for Operations acting director Police Brigadier General Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. said they compared the data before and after the program’s implementation.

“So, we compared it doon sa nine days naman before the implementation. So, from March 28 to April 5 against April 5 to April 10,” he said.

(So, we compared it there with the nine days before the implementation. So, from March 28 to April 5 against April 5 to April 10.)

“So makikita natin dito na yung among the eight focus crimes, all crimes against persons, murder, homicide, physical injuries, and rape talaga bumaba siya,” he added.

(So we can see here that among the eight focus crimes, all crimes against persons, murder, homicide, physical injuries, and rape, it really went down.)

Homicide cases dropped by 39.3%, rape by 22.9%, physical injuries by 22.7%, and murder cases dropped by 9.8%, according to the PNP.

Murder cases dropped by 9.8%, homicide by 39.3%, and physical injuries by 22.7% compared to the previous period.

On April 6, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced stricter implementation of the ban on alcohol, gambling, and going shirtless in public areas, as well as other measures under the Safer Cities Initiative.

A total of 89,532 violations have been recorded so far. Most of the violations were drinking and smoking in public places with 26,638 cases.

Of the total number, 55,100 violators were warned and released, 32,841 were fined, and 1,591 were charged.

The PNP observed a declining trend in the number of violations daily, from 11,742 on April 6 down to 6,332 on April 15. —VAL, GMA News