Index crimes drop 16% in Q1 2023 — Abalos

The number of index crimes in the country fell 16% in the first three months of 2023, government data showed Saturday.
 
Citing data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos said 7,865 index crimes were reported from January 1 to March 25, 2023, down 16% from the 9,375 crime incidents in the same period last year.
 
Carnapping of motor vehicle cases dropped from 82 last year to 48 this year, representing a 41.46% decrease, while cases of physical injuries went down from 1,339 to 898, for a 32.94% decrease.

Rape cases also went down, from 2,254 last year to 1,593 this year, a 29.33% decrease, and carnapping cases involving motorcycles dropped from 441 to 396, a 10.20% decrease.
 
Other crimes that posted lower figures after the first quarter are theft (2,647), robbery (1,080), murder (920), and homicide (229).
 
Abalos encouraged the PNP to be “steady and consistent” against index crimes.

“Hindi po matatawaran ang inyong dedikasyon sa pagganap ng inyong tungkulin para pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan. And now, we are reaping the fruits of your labor. Sana po ay magtuloy-tuloy ito,” he said.

(Your dedication to protecting the welfare of the citizens is priceless. And now, we are reaping the fruits of your labor. I hope it continues.)

The PNP also intensified efforts to capture wanted persons and the campaign against illegal drugs and firearms.
 
Based on the PNP data, from January 1 to March 24, 2023, a total of 17,418 wanted persons were caught due to “intensified pursuit."
 
At least P1.36 billion worth of illegal drugs were seized, and 14,481 cases were filed against arrested drug offenders, while 1,993 individuals were arrested and 6,726 firearms were seized during the same period.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa PNP sa pangangalaga ng kaligtasan ng bawat mamamayan. Patuloy tayong magsusumikap upang mabawasan ang kahit anong krimen at tuldukan ang paglaganap ng iligal na droga sa bansa,” Abalos said.

(I thanked the PNP for protecting the safety of every citizen. We will continue to work hard to reduce crimes and stop the spread of illegal drugs in the country.) —VBL, GMA Integrated News