Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan assured the public that the city remains safe and well-managed, with crime rates significantly lower than expected.
She said there were only 78 reported index crimes in Manila, a city with a population of two million, in February 2025.
"Huwag po kayong maniwala sa mga naghahasik ng takot na kesyo mataas daw ang krimen at hindi raw safe dito sa Maynila. Isipin po ninyo ito: Ang populasyon ng Maynila ay dalawang milyon. Ikumpara nyo po iyan sa 78 reported crime incidents sa buong buwan ng February. Opo, 78 lang! Ni hindi pa umabot ng isang daan (Don’t believe those spreading fear about crime rates being high and Manila being unsafe. Consider this: the population of Manila is two million, and there were only 78 reported crimes last month. That’s less than a hundred incidents for the entire city)."
The mayor emphasized that these figures are verifiable through official records from the Manila Police District (MPD), which show a consistent decrease in crime incidents compared to the same period last year.
She pointed out that the crime rate for February 2025 was 22.7 percent lower than February 2024, when there were 101 reported crimes.
Lacuna-Pangan dismissed accusations from former officials who claimed the city was unsafe, explaining that such claims were baseless and politically motivated.
The mayor also praised the media for their role in public safety, addressing concerns about crimes captured on closed circuit television.
She also explained that the city government funds the installation of CCTV cameras through the barangay budget and highlighted that safety remains a top priority.
Lacuna-Pangan expects crime rates to remain low and manageable until June.
She credited the drop in crime to the increased presence of law enforcement and the election period checkpoints positioned strategically throughout the city.
The mayor also praised specific districts for their crime reduction efforts, particularly Baseco, Pandacan, Ermita, and Tondo, which showed impressive improvements.
"Baseco had zero crimes in February, while Pandacan and Tondo reported only one incident each," she said.
"These results reflect the effective collaboration between the police, barangay officials, and local volunteers."
She also noted that the coming months would see continued vigilance, with heightened police presence expected during the Barangay and SK elections later this year.
"We are committed to maintaining the safety and security of Manila," she concluded.