CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – The Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3) reported a slight decline in crime in the region in 2025, alongside increased enforcement against illegal drugs, criminal gangs, wanted persons, and loose firearms.
In a statement on Sunday, PRO-3 said that in 2025, it recorded 10,725 operational accomplishments in the anti-illegal drugs campaign that led to the arrest of 788 high-value individuals and 9,937 street-level suspects.
Police seized more than 164 kilograms of shabu, 48 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves, 13,745 marijuana plants, and over 2.5 kilograms of kush marijuana, with an estimated value of about P1.13 billion.
Operations against organized crime resulted in the arrest of 47 gang members, while eight others surrendered, according to police records.
Manhunt operations led to the arrest of 19 regional most wanted persons, three provincial most wanted, seven municipal most wanted, and 19 other wanted suspects for various offenses.
In firearms-related operations, police confiscated 1,470 firearms, arrested 1,390 violators, and recorded 2,589 firearms that were either surrendered or placed under police custody.
Crime statistics showed total crimes dropped to 35,706 in 2025 from 36,444 in 2024, while index or focus crimes (homicide, murder, robbery, rape, physical injury, theft, carnapping, and motorcycle theft) fell to 3,228 from 3,713.
Crime solution efficiency for focus crimes rose to 70.42 percent from 67.01 percent in 2024. (PNA)