House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez has slammed the spread of what he described as "staged crime content on social media" even as the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been reporting a significant drop in crime rate. 

“‘Wag tayong maging tagapagsalita ng kasinungalingan (Let's not act as spokespersons of lies)," Romualdez said in a statement on Wednesday, April 2.

"While real crime is going down, fabricated stories and scripted videos are spreading like wildfire online. Fear is being peddled for clicks and views. That’s not just irresponsible—it’s dangerous,” warned the House leader.

Romualdez says the spread of fake crime videos and unverified reports not only wastes law enforcement resources but also erodes public confidence in the justice system.

“When people stage crimes just to go viral, they’re not just misleading the public—they’re mocking real victims and sabotaging police work. It’s an insult to every Filipino who wants genuine peace and order,” he stressed.

The House chief called on social media users and content creators to act with integrity, as he emphasized that free expression must never be used to spread falsehoods.

“Social media is a powerful tool. But when it’s used to manufacture lies and sow panic, it becomes a threat to national stability. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to mislead and deceive,” the Speaker pointed out.

On Tuesday, Romualdez commended the PNP for what he described as “stronger, smarter” policing under the Marcos administration, as he cited the significant drop in focus crimes nationwide.

He credited PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil for leading reforms that have improved crime prevention strategies and response times. He says these efforts are helping restore public confidence in law enforcement.

“Our streets are safer. That’s the truth. But when fake crime content dominates social media, people are made to feel otherwise. We must not let lies erase the progress we’ve made,” Romualdez said.

Official data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) shows a 26.76 percent drop in focus crimes—from 4,817 cases between Jan. 1 and Feb. 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.

“These are not just numbers. Every crime prevented is a life protected, a family spared. But these real gains are being drowned out by false narratives designed to stoke fear and mistrust,” the Speaker said.