January crime rate down by 60 percent, PNP says

MANILA, Philippines - The crime rate in Metro Manila went down by 60 percent despite the series of killings and daring robberies in malls, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

According to the PNP, the first month of 2013 was more peaceful than in the same period last year.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said there was a 59.68 percent decrease in crime volume in the metropolis last January.

Based on data from the PNP’s Directorate for Operations, 1,218 index crimes occurred in January 2013, much lower than the 3,021 crimes reported in January 2012.

“There was no upsurge in criminal incidents, especially in the National Capital Region,” Cerbo said.

PNP classifies murder, homicide, robbery, rape, car theft and physical injuries as index crimes.

Cerbo noted that authorities are still concerned with the crimes that happened in Metro Manila such as the robberies at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, Robinsons mall in Quezon City and a money remittance shop in Parañaque.

A re-electionist mayor from Isabela province was killed in Quezon City while a Chinese businessman was shot in Greenhills last month.

“We want to assure the public that there is no crime wave although we are still concerned,” Cerbo said.

The PNP said that murder cases dropped from 81 in January 2012 to 32 or 60.49 percent; physical injuries (836 to 282); rape (47 to 31) robbery (810 to 348); theft (1,014 to 398) and carjacking (202 to 100). Cases of homicide, however, increased by 19.35 percent from 31 in January 2012 to 37 this year.