Malacañang maintained that crime rate has declined despite the recent string of crimes in the country.

The Palace stood by the Philippine National Police data showing that crime rate decreased by 20.6 percent as of July this year.

"Alam po natin at kari-report lamang din po ng PNP na iyong crime rate ay bumaba ng 20.6% from 9,506 cases from January 6 to April 5, to 7,883 cases from April 6 to July 4 (We know, and the PNP recently reported, that the crime rate decreased by 20.6%—from 9,506 cases recorded from January 6 to April 5, down to 7,883 cases from April 6 to July 4)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing on Monday, July 20.

While Malacañang stressed the decline in crime rate, it stated that the government "does not take pleasure" in the recent spate of crimes.

However, Castro pointed out that the PNP data shows something different from the perception of other people as far as crimes are concerned.

"Iyon po ba ang pananaw ng ibang tao? Siguro kung iyan ang pananaw ng ibang tao, iba naman po ang nakikita natin na data (Is that the perception of other people? Perhaps if that is how others see it, the data we are looking at shows something different)," Castro said when asked to respond to the feelings of the public that society these days is less safe than in the previous administration.

"May nakikita po tayo, yes, dahil naibabalita, pero sa pangkalahatan sa buong Pilipinas, may mga lugar po tayo na nai-report din pong PNP na wala pong nangyayaring krimen.  Nagkakaroon lang po kasi at naha-highlight dahil nakikita po natin sa balita (Yes, we do see reports because they are being covered in the news, but in general, across the Philippines, there are areas where the PNP has also reported that no crimes have occurred. These incidents only become highlighted because they are featured in the news)," Castro said.

The Palace official assured the public that the PNP continues to take all necessary actions to address the need of Filipinos for protection.

"Pero, again, hindi po natin ito maaaring ipagpunyagi dahil hangga't maaari ay zero crime ang Pilipinas, pero that is not the reality (However, we cannot take pride in this situation because, as much as possible, we want the Philippines to have zero crime. But that is not the reality)," Castro said.

"Ang PNP pa rin po ay gumagawa lahat ng aksiyon para matugunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan para sa proteksiyon at makikita naman po nila at nairi-report na kung may nagawang krimen ay napakabilis din po nilang rumesponde (The PNP continues to take all necessary actions to address the need of our fellow Filipinos for protection. People can see from the reports that when crimes do happen, the police are also able to respond quickly)," Castro added.

Meawhile, when asked if President Marcos has extended help to the killed lady vlogger, Castro said the President "does not publicize the assistance he extends."

"Hindi po siguro sa akin dapat manggaling iyan, nabanggit na po iyan ng mga kaibigan noong vlogger, sila na po ang nagpatotoo. At gusto ko lang po kasing ipaalam sa inyo kung sa mga ganitong pangyayari, hindi lang  dahil sa vlogger na ito, sa mga kababayan natin na nasasawing-palad, hindi po ipinaalam ng Pangulo ang tulong na ipinapaabot niya (I don’t think I should be the one to say that; the friends of the vlogger have already mentioned it, and they are the ones who can attest to it. I simply want to inform everyone that in situations like these, not only involving this vlogger but also our fellow citizens who experience unfortunate circumstances, the President does not publicize the assistance he extends)," Castro said.

"At ang tulong ay nanggagaling sa puso at hindi para mamulitika, so hindi po namin sinasabi kung anuman iyong itinutulong ng Pangulo (The help comes from the heart and is not meant for political purposes, so we do not announce whatever assistance the President provides)," Castro added.

Among the string of crimes that recently took place include the killing of a marine biologist in Negros Oriental, the stabbing and robbery of a motorcycle taxi rider, and the fatal shooting of a vlogger in Caloocan City.