‘Focus crimes’ down 12.40% in 2025 —PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said it saw an improvement in the crime environment all over the country in 2025.

In a statement, the PNP, citing official records from its Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, said focus crimes declined by 12.40% to 35,717 in January to December 2025 from 40,771 incidents in the same period in 2024, fewer by 5,054 cases year-on-year.

The PNP said the data further revealed that most major crime categories posted significant reductions, led by rape, which registered the highest decrease at 22.68%, dropping from 9,910 cases in 2024 to 7,662 in 2025. 

This was followed by carnapping of motor vehicles, which declined by 20.18%, from 332 to 265 incidents.

Murder cases also decreased by 17.80%, from 4,151 to 3,412, while homicide dropped by 14.98%, from 1,268 to 1,078 incidents. 

Physical Injury cases also went down by 13.98%, declining from 5,593 to 4,811, and robbery fell by 11.87%, from 4,136 to 3,645 cases.

Meanwhile, theft recorded a 4.31% decrease, from 13,232 cases in 2024 to 12,662 in 2025.

The PNP, moreover, said that a comparison of two equal 128-day periods in 2025 further shows a sustained downward trend in crime, with incidents decreasing by 11.64%, from 13,307 cases recorded between April 19 and August 25 to 11,758 cases from August 26 to December 31, or 1,549 fewer incidents as of January 2, 2026.

Acting Chief PNP PLTGEN Jose Melencio Nartatez said the sustained decrease in crime reflects the effectiveness of the PNP’s Focused Agenda, coupled with the collective efforts of police units nationwide.

Nartatez said that the gains recorded in 2025 were achieved through consistent implementation of crime prevention and law enforcement strategies on the ground. —VAL, GMA Integrated News