The country’s crime rate dropped by a whopping 73.76 percent from 2016 when President Duterte assumed office until 2021 based on the record of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In a news briefing on Monday night, Feb. 21, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said that from 131,699 cases, the country’s crime index is now down to 34,552 in 2021 which he attributed to the President’s efficient program against all forms of criminality.
He referred to crime index as lawbreaking offenses considered as serious in nature with sufficient frequency and regularity citing murder, homicide, rape, robbery, carnapping, physical injuries and eight other special complex crimes as examples.
Compared to the 374,277 crime incidents in 2020, Año noted that the figure is now down to 360,573 in 2021 for a 3.66 percent decrease.
Referring to the peace and order indicator, Año pointed out that there was a significant drop in the number of index crimes and non-index crimes from 377,766 incidents in 2016 to 211,237 in 2021.
With these figures, Año stressed that this meant that the public felt the much improved peace and order situation as they have increased confidence in the government’s capability to protect them against lawless elements.
From Feb. 13 to 19, Año reported that the anti-narcotics authorities conducted 916 operations where 1,281 individuals were arrested with three fatalities and 47 others voluntarily giving themselves up.
During the period, data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed that P27,580,509 shabu and marijuana were seized during the week-long operation.
In the same briefing, Año disclosed a marked improvement in the country’s coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) situation with only14 cities and municipalities currently under granular lockdowns.
Currently 109 barangays with 28 in Metro Manila are in 226 granular lockdown areas in the country with 267 households or 343 individuals being affected.
Meanwhile, Año revealed that P3.2 billion out of the P4.85 billion worth of ayuda (cash aid) were distributed to 2,280,054 beneficiaries in the areas struck by typhoon Odette.
He noted that the CARAGA (Region 13) Region topped the list with 92.10 percent of the ayuda distributed followed by Region 4-B with 90.55 percent distribution rate.
However, Año noted that Region VI had distributed the ayuda to 773,123 recipients which is the most when it comes to the aid delivered.
“Patuloy pa rin po nating imo-monitor at isu-supervise ang pagbibigay ng mga natitira pang ayuda sa lahat ng apektado (We will still continue to monitor and supervise the distribution of the remaining ayuda to the affected),’’ Año said.
The initial phase of the COVID-19 ayuda distribution was marred by anomalies where 89 barangay officials and their cohorts were charged for the illegal payout to the unqualified residents. (Chito A. Chavez)