PNP sees 2% hike in index crimes after NCR, nearby provinces placed under GCQ

Crime incidents increased by 2 percent after Metro Manila and nearby provinces shifted to a less stringent general community quarantine (GCQ) on June 1, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday.

According to Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras,” incidents of index crimes such as murder or homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, and carnapping increased slightly in the past few weeks.

“May naitala lang tayo na 2 percent na increase of crime incidents. Sa posibleng pag-transition sa modified GCQ, naroon ‘yung posibilidad na tumaas pa rin ang bilang ng mga krimen pero hindi sa ganoong antas na bago mag-pandemic,” PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said.

He added that the police will strengthen its patrolling and response but also appealed for cooperation from the public.

“Patuloy na maging security conscious, panatilihin po na nakasarado ang bintana, mga pintuan, mga gate. Tuloy lamang tayo na maging alerto at mapagmatiyag sa ating palibot, kung ano man ‘yung ating napapansin, ipaabot kaagad sa kapulisan,” Banac said.

One victim was Boy Cequena, a councilor in Binangonan, Rizal province who lost to burglars three mobile phones worth almost P100,000. -Julia Mari Ornedo/MDM, GMA News