The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) recorded a 19.61 percent decline in crimes against persons and properties in Metro Manila in the entire month of January compared to the same period last year.
From 561 incidents in January 2024, NCRPO acting director Brig. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin said the eight focus crimes or index crimes last month decreased to 451 incidents.
The index crimes that the police are focusing on cover crime against persons— murder, homicide, rape and physical injuries. They also include crime against property, particularly robbery, theft, carnapping and motorcycle theft.
Citing the crime statistics last month, Aberin said the biggest decline in index crime was rape with 46.49 percent and physical injuries with 37.14 percent.
But despite the decline in criminal incidents, Aberin said he tasked his men to continue implementing measures to deny criminal elements the opportunity to strike.
“Let us not rest on this initial operational milestone but instead, let us aspire more to further improve the peace and security situation in Metro Manila by doing our job of crime prevention and solution exceptionally well, with the help of our security partners and the members of the community,” said Aberin.
Since his assumption last year, Aberin initiated intervention measures to reduce criminal incidents in the country, particularly the strict implementation of ordinances of local government units in Metro Manila.
More than 148,000 violators were apprehended in the first 24 days of 2025 due to stricter Metro Manila ordinance implementation. This also led to the local government units earning more than P42 million.
Aberin earlier explained that the strict implementation of the ordinances—from ban on smoking and drinking in public places to curfew and even unauthorized use of karaoke beyond the allowed hours— is aligned with the Broken Windows theory.
It basically means that more serious crimes like robbery, murder and other violent actions start from simple misdemeanors and non-violent breaking of rules and regulations—and thus, must be acted upon in the soonest possible time.
It stemmed from an analogy that small cracks in the windows could lead to a bigger problem in the entire house or building if not attended to.