Pandemic crime rate drop to improve Philippine rank – PNP

MANILA, Philippines — The drop in the crime rate during the COVID-19 pandemic will help improve the ranking of the Philippines in Gallup’s Global Law and Order report, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the report by the United States-based analytics and advisory firm only mirrored the improving peace and order situation in the country.

The report said eight of 10 Filipinos feel secure in their community, which placed the country in the top 50 of the list with a score of 84/100.

“The Filipino people themselves have witnessed the sacrifices of our personnel in ensuring that they are both safe from criminal elements and the coronavirus infection,” he said in a statement.

President Duterte last March imposed a community quarantine in response to a surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.

During the 226-day community quarantine, the PNP documented 21,729 crimes, which is lower by 45.85 percent compared to 39,920 cases recorded before lockdown measures were imposed.

Eleazar lauded the country’s security forces for keeping criminals at bay during the COVID-19 pandemic.