MANILA, Philippines — Crime victimization hit a record low in the second quarter but fears of unsafe streets went up in most areas, a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.
Families losing property to street robbery, burglars (break-ins) or car thieves fell to a record low 3.1 percent or an estimated 706,000, down from 6.3 percent or about 1.4 million in March.
SWS said 3.7 percent or an estimated 840,000 families reported being victimized by common crimes, down from 6.8 percent or around 1.6 million in March 2017.
This was also lower by 1.2 points from the previous record low of 4.9 percent (estimated 1.1 million) in December 2016, the SWS said.
The survey also found 0.6 percent (an estimated 149,000) of families with members hurt by physical violence in the second quarter, or almost unchanged from 0.7 percent (about 155,000) in March.
The survey was conducted from June 23-26 or before reports of the police killing of Kian delos Santos and Carl Arnaiz came out and sparked outrage.
Malacañang said the survey results showed the administration’s campaign against criminality is on track despite concerns raised over the killing of minors.
The survey, results of which were published in the newspaper Busines World yesterday, involved face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide.
The number of families victimized by street robbery in the past six months fell from 5.3 percent (around 1.2 million) in March to a new record low 2.3 percent (about 525,000) in June.
It also found 1.1 percent (an estimated 260,000) of families victimized by break-ins, 0.8 points below the 1.9 percent (around 435,000) reported in March.
It said 0.2 percent (about 21,000) were robbed of motor vehicle, down by 0.8 points from one percent (around 83,000) in March.
By area, families robbed of their personal property outside their homes fell by 7.7 points in Metro Manila, from 12 percent in March to a new record low of 4.3 percent in June.
It also fell by three points in balance Luzon, from 4.3 percent in March to 1.3 percent in June.
Victimization by street robbery likewise dropped by 1.7 points in the Visayas, from 4.7 percent in March to three percent in June; and by 1.3 points in Mindanao, from 3.7 percent to 2.3 percent.
Victimization by break-ins fell 0.7 points in the rest of Luzon, from 1.7 percent in March to one percent in June. It remained steady in Metro Manila at 3.7 percent.
However, it rose by 0.3 points in the Visayas, from 0.7 percent to one percent.
SWS did not find any case of families victimized by break-ins in Mindanao in June. It was at 2.3 percent in March.
Physical violence
The number of families with member or members hurt from physical violence fell to 0.3 percent from one percent in March in the Visayas. It fell from 1.3 percent to one percent in Metro Manila. It was unchanged in Mindanao, at 0.7 percent since December 2016.
Fear of unsafe streets rose in most areas except Metro Manila.
It increased by 11 points in Mindanao, from 49 percent to 61 percent; by two points in the Visayas, from 48 percent to 50 percent; and by a point in the rest of Luzon, from 60 percent to 61 percent.
Families fearing unsafe streets fell by three points in Metro Manila, from 54 percent to 51 percent.
Meanwhile, the SWS poll said the presence of drug addicts dropped by 11 points in Metro Manila, from 65 percent to 54 percent.
It fell by nine points in balance Luzon, from 57 percent to 48 percent in June.
However, it rose in Mindanao from 44 percent to 48 percent and in the Visayas from 40 percent to 43 percent.
Families that fell prey to car thieves fell by 1.4 points in Metro Manila, from 3.4 percent in March to two percent in June.
The June 2017 sample had no case of car theft in the Visayas, the SWS said. It was at 0.8 percent in December 2016.
The survey also showed no record of car theft in the rest of Luzon in June. It was at 0.9 percent in March.
There was also no record of car theft in the Mindanao sample in June. The figure was 0.8 percent in March.
At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Eduardo Abella said the survey reflects the breakthroughs in the administration’s stepped-up campaign against criminality, especially drug related.
“The government’s campaign against crimes and illegal drugs has resulted in less robberies, less physical violence, less fear of being in public spaces,” Abella said.
“Efforts at ensuring public safety in the first year of the Duterte administration are yielding positive results; however, more needs to be accomplished in making sure that our streets, neighborhoods and communities are kept permanently safe, not only within Metro Manila but also in the rest of the country,” he added.
Duterte’s campaign promise was focused on stamping out illegal drugs within the first six months of his administration. – With Christina Mendez