Published May 4, 2026 10:49am
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The Philippine National Police said Monday focus crimes declined by 30% from January to April 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, citing the impact of its “Safer Cities” initiative.
In an ambush interview, PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the program promotes crime prevention through increased police visibility and patrol operations.
“Last two years ago, that is election period of 2025 as well as the period of 2024, ‘yan yung January, February, March, April, ay malaki ang binawas,” Nartatez said.
(Last two years, that is the election period of 2025 as well as the period of 2024, that is January, February, March, April, crimes were greatly reduced.)
“But there are focus crimes na masasabi naman natin tumaas. But the point here is generally, all of the focus crimes, kapag pinagsama-sama mo, and that is the picture of our crime situation, kapag pinag-compare mo, it is 30% compared to 2024 and 2025,” he added.
(But there are focus crimes that we can say have increased. But the point here is generally, all of the focus crimes, when you put them together, and that is the picture of our crime situation, when you compare it, it is 30% compared to 2024 and 2025>)
Focus crimes are offenses considered as serious in nature with sufficient frequency and regularity.
These include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of motor vehicles, and carnapping of motorcycle.
Crime incidents
Nartatez added that the PNP also recorded a 13% drop in crime incidents compared to the last three months before the implementation of the Safer Cities operations.
On April 6, Safer Cities Initiative was launched, enforcing intensified monitoring against public drinking, shirtless loitering, late-night karaoke, curfews for minors, among other measures to curb street crimes. — RSJ, GMA News