PNP claims crime rate down by 60%

MANILA, Philippines – It was the month a shootout erupted in SM Megamall – one of the world’s biggest malls – and two other major malls in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Killings also took place in January 2013, but if the Philippine National Police (PNP) is to be believed, it was more peaceful than in the same period last year.

The crime rate in NCR went down by 59.68% in January 2013, the PNP said.

Based on data from the PNP’s Directorate for Operations, 1,218 index crimes happened in January 2013, much lower than the 3,021 reported in January 2012.

The PNP classifies murder, homicide, rape, robbery, theft, and physical injuries, among others, as index crimes.

“There is no crime wave or upsurge of crimes although we are still concerned,” said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr in an interview.

Cerbo made this statement over a week after a robbery-shootout incident at a jewelry store in SM Megamall. Shootout incidents also happened in two Robinsons malls.

Days before this, a reelectionist mayor from Isabela province was killed in Quezon City. A Chinese businessman was also shot in Greenhills.

The crimes took place despite a gun implemented beginning January 13. In a previous press conference, however, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said crime does not necessarily mean the gun ban is ineffective. (Watch more in the video below.)

– with reports from Paterno Esmaquel II/Rappler.com