Crimes have plummeted under the administration of President Marcos, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla declared on Monday, Oct. 28.
“The peace and order situation remains a top priority for the Marcos Administration, and we are committed to assuring the Filipino people that our nation is on a path toward greater stability and security,” Remulla said in a statement.
Remulla issued the statement to refute the allegations made by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte that drug-related crimes after his administration’s war against illegal narcotics have resurfaced and even escalated.
Duterte made the claims on Monday during the Senate hearing on his administration’s war against illegal drugs.
“With utmost respect for former President Duterte's leadership, we believe that his perception of an escalating crime rate does not reflect the reality supported by concrete data,” Remulla said.
Citing a report submitted to President Marcos, the DOJ cited that there ws a total of 324,368 crimes recorded from July 1, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2024.
It said the figure represents a 10.66 percent decrease from the 363,075 crimes recorded between Dec. 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022, it said.
It pointed out that seven out of eight focus crimes have seen significant declines.
It cited there was a reduced number of rape at 11.08 percent, physical injury at 10.59 percent, robbery at 2.26 percent, murder at 10.17 percent, carnapping at 23.27 percent, and homicide at 0.91 percent.
It noted that the only exception is theft which recorded a modest increase of 4.79 percent.