PNP reports 41% decrease in crimes in PHL

Despite the recent spate of crimes in the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said that there was actually a 41-percent decrease in the rate of criminal activities in the Philippines. During Wednesday's Senate public order and illegal drugs committee hearing, PNP Investigation and Detective Management head Director Arturo Cacdac Jr. said that there was a 41.10-percent decrease in the crime volume in the country. Cacdac said the "most affected" area by this decrease was Region III (Central Luzon) while the "least affected" was the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Cacdac said that index crimes (which include murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, and rape) went down by 37.96 percent while there was supposedly a "sharp decrease" in non-index crimes by 45.52 percent. He said that crimes against persons dropped by 45.52 percent; crimes against property 31 percent; kidnap for ransom 28.07 percent; murder by 60.36 percent; and carnapping 4.04 percent. To remedy the remaining criminal activities, Cacdac said that they are currently intenstifying police visibility, enhancing intelligence operations, and involving more stakeholders. As of posting time, the Senate hearing on the on the overall peace and order situation of the country was still ongoing. Also present during the hearing were PNP chief Dir. Gen. Raul Bacalzo and Interior Sec. Jesse Robredo. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMANews.TV