MANILA, Philippines — The country's crime rate declined by 24 percent in January this year compared to the same month in 2025, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.
In the comparative data released by the PNP, focus crimes went down from 3,266 in 2025 to 2,449 in 2026, making a 24.32% decrease from January 1 to January 31, 2026.
Classified as focus crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, theft, robbery, vehicle theft, and motorcycle theft.
Murder decreased from 316 to 284, homicide from 104 to 83, and physical injuries from 409 to 283. Rape cases also decreased from 848 to 331, carjacking incidents involving motor vehicles went down from 25 to 17, while motorcycle thefts dipped 189 to 144.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez attributed the nationwide improvement to the Enhanced Managing Police Operations under the PNP Focused Agenda, which focuses on better supervision, clearer direction for field units, and faster police response.
“We don't just look at the number of operations or delays. For us, it's important that people feel their community is safer. When crime decreases, it is an indication that what we are doing is having a positive impact,” Nartatez told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.
For January alone, the PNP arrested 7,159 fugitives—2,086 of them were most wanted, and 5,073 were wanted.
