In response to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that crime rates increased during the Marcos administration, the Philippine National Police (PNP) recently pointed out that crime rates had significantly decreased as compared to Duterte’s administration.
Jesus Crispin Remulla, the justice secretary, too questioned Duterte’s claim, highlighting an alternative reality backed by facts. With the highest regard for the leadership of former President Duterte, we think that his assessment of a rising crime rate is not accurate given the facts,” Remulla said.
The Department of Justice reinforced this view, describing Duterte’s comments as “anecdotal and lacking empirical support.” PNP data reveals that from July 1, 2022, to July 28, 2024, index crimes declined to 83,059 from 217,830 during the comparable period of Duterte’s first two years in office, marking a 61.87% reduction.
Crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injuries, and rape dropped by 55.69%, while incidents of robbery, theft, car theft, and other property crimes fell by 66.81%. Crime clearance and solution efficiency rates also saw notable improvements, increasing by 27.13% and 10.28%, respectively.
During a recent Senate inquiry, Duterte expressed concern over rising crime rates and reports of drug activities within the Malacañang complex. In response, the PNP highlighted significant accomplishments in the anti-illegal drugs campaign under President Marcos, including the seizure of illegal drugs worth P35.6 billion and the arrest of 122,309 drug suspects.
The PNP underscored that these efforts have been carried out with a strong commitment to justice and respect for human life, aligning with their mission to foster safer communities. “The PNP stands united with the nation in building safer and more secure communities,” they affirmed in their statement.
Benhur Abalos, who supervised the PNP as interior secretary under President Marcos, also refuted Duterte’s claims, pointing to data showing a decrease in crime and a shift toward rehabilitation within the anti-drug campaign. “Our focus on rehabilitation has reduced casualties in the campaign against illegal drugs,” he said.
