MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said focus crimes declined by 30% from January to April 2026 compared with 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 centers on crime prevention through increased police visibility and intensified patrol operations.
“Last two years ago, that is the 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 ago, that is the election period of 2025 as well as the period of 2024—January, February, March, April—there was a significant reduction)
He noted, however, that some categories of focus crimes saw increases.
“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, when you combine all focus crimes—and that is the overall picture of our crime situation—when you compare it, it is down by 30% compared to 2024 and 2025.)
Focus crimes refer to frequently occurring serious offenses such as murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, and carnapping of motor vehicles and motorcycles.
Nartatez also said a 13% drop in crime incidents was recorded compared to the three months prior to the implementation of the Safer Cities operations.
The Safer Cities Initiative, launched on April 6, enforces stricter monitoring of public drinking, shirtless loitering, late-night karaoke, and curfew violations for minors, among other measures aimed at curbing street crime.
