Philippines crime volume drops in 2023
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ crime volume decreased while the law enforcers’ crime solution efficiency improved this year, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reported.
In a statement released by Malacañang on Thursday, the DILG said the volume of both index and non-index crimes decreased from January to November 2023 compared to the same period last year.
Index crimes or those committed against persons and property such as murder, homicide, rape, physical injury, theft and robbery, went down by 8.44 percent, the agency said. Non-index crimes, which include violations of special laws and local ordinances, dropped by 7.32 percent.
The Malacañang statement said there were “improvements” in seven of the eight focus index crimes but did not elaborate. The eight focus crimes are murder, homicide, robbery, theft, physical injury, rape, vehicle theft and motorcycle theft.
“Following the lifting of restrictions due to the pandemic, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported an improvement in the crime-related statistics, with a 0.14 percent drop in overall crime incidences,” the DILG said.
Crime solution efficiency, the agency said, rose year-on-year by 1.38 percent from January to December. Crime solution efficiency refers to the percentage of solved cases out of the total number of crime incidents handled by law enforcement agencies for a given period.
The DILG said it undertook multi-sectoral engagements to ensure the safety of communities. It cited the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Iwasan or BIDA program, which emphasizes the need for the government and the private sector to work together to combat illicit drugs.
The agency also collaborated with the PNP, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement agencies to conduct anti-drug efforts called “greyhound operations.”
Methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, cigarettes, firearms, liquors and cash were among the contraband seized in more than 268,000 greyhound operations from January to October this year.
Because of the anti-narcotics campaign, 305 out of 433 or 70 percent of the occupied
