Record-low crime rate proof of effective PNP drive – Palace

Malacañang took as proof of the Duterte administration’s successful anti-crime campaign the result of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which indicated a record-low 6.1 percent of Filipino families claiming they’ve been victims of common crimes last year.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the result of the survey, which reflects public sentiment, is sure to boost the morale of the country’s uniformed armed men.

“These survey findings, which reflect the sentiment of the public, are a clear validation of the success of the Duterte administration’s anti-crime and anti-drug campaign where residents of Metro Manila feel safer in the streets because of fewer addicts in the neighborhoods. This survey is thus a big boost to the morale of our policemen,” Roque said.

The Palace official also assured the public that the administration will keep on exerting more effort to ensure that people across the country will continue to feel safe and secure.

“While we are encouraged by these figures, we assure our people that authorities continue to work double time to ensure the safety of the public in all parts of the country,” Roque said.

“We vow to continue our efforts to maintain a crime-free community and we extend our thanks to the community for their unrelenting support,” he added.

Based on the survey conducted from December 8-6 last year, about 7.6 percent or 1.7 million families fell victim to physical violence, burglars, pickpockets, or carnappers in the past six months.

SWS explained that while the said figure was 1.5 percentage points higher than what was recorded in the September, 2017 survey, the resulting annual average for last year was still a record 6.1-percent low.

“Due to the record-low 3.7 percent quarterly victimization rate in June 2017, the resulting annual average victimization by any of the common crimes for 2017 was a record-low 6.1 percent,” SWS said in a statement.

The previous record-low annual average, 6.8 percent, was registered in 2015.

Lowering crime rate in the country, along with ridding the country of illegal drugs, within three to six months was one of the promises President Duterte made as he campaigned for the presidency in 2016.

In his second State of the Nation Address, Duterte vowed that his fight against crime, illegal drugs, and corruption will continue until the end of his six-year term.

Roque earlier said that the Duterte administration will remain undistracted in improving the lives of the poor and marginalized, fighting criminality and enforcing the law, and curbing graft and corruption in government.