The Philippine National Police (PNP) has committed to do more in sustaining gains in peace and order after it reported a 25.77-percent decline in focus crimes in May this year.

From 2,895 incidents in May last year, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said it went down to 2,149 incidents last month and described it as the lowest monthly total recorded this year.

But for Nartatez, the decline is just a figure unless these are not translated into a tangible sense of security for ordinary citizens.

“The decrease is an encouraging sign but our goal is not to celebrate numbers alone. We want every Filipino to feel safer in their communities, and sustaining this trend will require consistent police visibility, intelligence-driven operations, and strong public cooperation,” Nartatez said.

“The true measure of success is public confidence. We are directing all units to strengthen community engagement, respond quickly to incidents, and ensure that improvements in peace and order are experienced by ordinary citizens,” he added.

To sustain the downward trend, Nartatez directed all regional and provincial offices to validate crime data and identify areas where criminal activity remains elevated despite the national decline.

He also ordered police commanders to strengthen community engagement programs to improve reporting, trust, and cooperation with local residents.

Nartatez said the PNP remains focused on long-term improvements that go beyond crime reduction figures.

“Our next objective is not only to reduce crime further but also to improve crime prevention, response time, and public confidence in law enforcement across the country,” he said.

Nartatez said maintaining public trust remains essential in sustaining peace and order gains and ensuring that law enforcement efforts continue to deliver tangible results for communities nationwide.