Metro Manila crime rate drops – NCRPO

MANILA, Philippines – The number of crimes recorded in Metro Manila went down last month since the National Capital Region Police Office implemented an all-out war on drugs, NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde said yesterday.

The NCRPO has so far neutralized 157 drug suspects, arrested 1,198 others and initiated the surrender of 22,156 drug pushers from July 3 to Aug. 3, according to Albayalde.

The NCRPO is also investigating the deaths of 76 drug suspects who were either killed or found dead in the metropolis.

Albayalde said car theft cases in Quezon City decreased, with only four incidents during the same period.

“At least nine vehicles were stolen every day in Quezon City in the past. But only four vehicles were stolen last month, and one of the incidents was solved by police,” he said.

Albayalde said only two theft cases per day were recorded by the NCRPO compared to previous records of four cases a day.

Cases of robbery also dropped from three cases to two per day, he said.

The NCRPO chief ordered the five district directors and 38 police chiefs in Metro Manila to shift the anti-drug campaign to high-value drug personalites.

“We should not lower our guard at this time. If we could do it in the first month, then there’s no reason for us not to meet the deadline set by the President to solve crime and illegal drugs within six months,” Albayalde said.