Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla firmly refutes the claim of former President Rodrigo Duterte that the end of the previous administration’s War on Drugs has allowed criminal elements to resurface.
Remulla made this remark following the assertion made during the Senate hearing on Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
“With utmost respect for former President Duterte’s leadership, we believe that his perception of an escalating crime rate does not reflect the reality supported by concrete data. The peace and order situation remains a top priority for the Marcos Administration, and we are committed to assuring the Filipino people that our nation is on a path toward greater stability and security,” he said.
He emphasized that “the peace and order situation in our country is not only stable but has also dramatically improved.”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) categorically dismisses the statements made by former President Duterte as anecdotal and lacking empirical support, according to him.
Remulla cited a report submitted to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. wherein the total number of recorded crimes from July 1, 2022, to January 31, 2024, has plummeted to 324,368, representing a 10.66% decrease from the 363,075 crimes recorded between December 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022.
He noted that seven out of eight focus crimes have seen significant declines, including a reduction in rape (11.08%), physical injury (10.59%), robbery (2.26%), murder (10.17%), carnapping (23.27%), and homicide (0.91%).
Meanwhile, the only exception is theft, which experienced a modest increase of 4.79%.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) echoed Remulla’s statement and reaffirmed its commitment to national safety and security, pointing out substantial progress in crime reduction over the past two years.
“Our latest data indicates a substantial decline in crime rates, underscoring the effectiveness of our ongoing strategies and proactive measures,” the PNP said.
From July 1, 2022 to July 28, 2024, the PNP said it recorded a significant 61.87 percent drop in index crimes with incidents down from 217,830 in the same period from 2016 to 2018 to just 83,059.
The decline spans various crime categories, with notable reductions in violent crimes, including murder, rape, homicide, and physical injuries, as well as property crimes like robbery, theft, and carnapping.
Crimes against persons, such as murder, homicide, physical injuries, and rape, decreased by 55.69 percent, translating to reductions of 11,641 in murders, 2,420 in homicides, 2,719 in rape cases, and 34,966 in physical injuries.
Property crimes also saw a 66.81 percent decrease with reported incidents dropping from 124,799 to 41,420 during the same comparative periods.
The PNP also noted improvements in its Crime Clearance Efficiency by 27.13 percent and Crime Solution Efficiency by 10.28 percent, reflecting their commitment to quickly resolve cases and deliver justice and strengthening public trust in law enforcement.
The intensified anti-drug campaign likewise achieved substantial results, leading to the seizure of illegal drugs worth P35.6 billion and the arrest of 122,309 individuals linked to drug-related offenses, according to the national police.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Remulla refutes Duterte’s claim on rise of drug-related crimes.”
