MANILA, Philippines – An average of 26 killings happened every day in the Philippines from September 16 to October 15, according to data from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

This is according to the data prepared by the PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM).

On September 28, the PNP released data which recorded 15,911 homicide cases from July 1, 2016, to September 15, 2017.

A month later, on October 15, the number increased to 16,701, an updated data sheet acquired by Rappler showed. Between the two dates, 790 killings occurred. 

A homicide case or incident refers to an event where an assailant killed at least one person, based on the PNP’s definition. 

The daily average number of deaths for the 30 days is lower than the average number recorded in the first year of the Duterte administration, when an average of 39 deaths occurred each day.

During the final full year of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, there was an average of 31 killings a day.

The updated data showed that of the 16,701 cases, 2,269 are drug-related killings. Excluded in the tally are the deaths of law enforcers during operations, which stood at 85 as of September 16.

There were 3,851 non-drug related killings, while the motives for the 10,551 other cases are still being investigated.

Misunderstanding top cause of non-drug related killings

About 82% of the non-drug related killings or 3,178 cases were due to “heated arguments or misunderstanding” (1,801 cases), and “personal grudge” (1,377).

Among the other motives for the cases of non-drug related killings are the following: personal gain (131), atrocities by threat groups (89), land dispute (73), revenge (64), jealousy (52), love triangle (47), and self-defense (40).

The data also showed 3 cases of “activist/media killings.”

After the PNP was plucked out of the administration’s war on drugs, the police have vowed to focus on reducing all other crimes, especially killings.

During Duterte’s first year in office, all crimes dropped except for homicide and murder incidents. – Rappler.com