PNP hopeful low crime rate can be sustained after quarantine is eased

May 7, 2020

With a 60 percent decrease in crime rate, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday expressed optimism that this trend will be sustained under the “new normal”

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said the public's cooperation and support are key factors behind the drastic shift in the traditional crime trend under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)

Based on the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) it showed that the national Total Crime Volume dropping 34.45 percent from 58,705 cases in the period February 1 to March 16, down to only 38,484 cases in March 17 to April 30 under ECQ.

“If this trend can be sustained under the new normal when the ECQ shall have been eventually downgraded, we can look forward to better days ahead with less crime and lesser fear of crime,” Gamboa said.

PNP said cases of index crimes make up only 8.8 percent of the total crime volume.

It registered 60.49 percent decrease or 4,087 fewer cases over the same pre-ECQ and ECQ periods from 6,756 cases in February 1 to March 16, down to only 2,669 cases during the ECQ period in March 17 to April 30.

Index crime cases are more accurate indicators of the situation. These comprise the eight focused crimes of murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, carjacking, carnapping of motorcycle, and rape, he explained.

“It should be more interesting to note that carnapping of motor vehicles and carnapping of motorcycles both registered the highest rates of decrease at 87.5 and 81.84 percent, respectively; while the perennially high incidents of robbery and theft dropped 64.16 percent and 67.89 percent, respectively, under the ECQ,” said Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, said.

“The traditional crime landscape, instead, drastically shifted to violations of ECQ guidelines, which are mostly non-index crime cases; and digital crimes thru the use access devices and cyberspace to commit fraud, estafa, extortion, trafficking in persons, child abuse; and circulation of disinformation and fake news,” he said.

PNP data showed non-index crime or less serious crimes comprise 91.92 percent of total crime volume, but despite the larger number, non-index crime cases are not accurate indicators of the total prevailing crime situation.

“Rather, it reflects the effectiveness of police operations in the enforcement of special laws, statutes and local ordinances,” Banac explained.

“In the PNP’s own assessment, this new crime trend under ECQ can be attributed primarily to the prevailing favorable environment that provide crime deterrence due to restricted movement of people, stay at home quarantine protocol, increased presence of law enforcement and force multipliers, liquor ban, and swift government response to the COVID-19 crisis,” Banac said. Ella Dionisio/DMS