At A Glance
- Senatorial candidate Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has told the Philippines National Police (PNP)--which he led from 1999 to 2001-- to keep up its efficiency that led to the lowering of the crime rate this year.
(Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Senatorial candidate Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has told the Philippines National Police (PNP)--which he led from 1999 to 2001-- to keep up its efficiency that led to the lowering of the crime rate this year.
"What I can say is, congratulations to the PNP for lower crime [rate]. Lower crime rate is a cause for us to be glad," Lacso said in a recent statement.
The PNP cited improved strategies and community engagement for the lowered crime rate--particularly on focus crimes.
Lacson said the PNP should remain dedicated to crime prevention and crime suppression. If it cannot prevent crimes through patrols, it should solve them, or risk encouraging the further commission of crimes, he said.
PNP data shows a 26.76 percent drop in focus crimes—from 4,817 cases between January 1 and February 14, 2024, to 3,528 in the same period this year.
Focus crimes include theft, robbery, rape, murder, homicide, physical injury, and carnapping of motorcycles and motor vehicles. Among these, rape saw the sharpest decline, dropping by over 50 percent.
Year-on-year data also reflect a 7.31 percent decrease in focus crimes, from 41,717 cases in 2023 to 38,667 in 2024.
Lacson is running under the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate.