Quezon City: Crimes in the country dropped by more than 9 percent in the past 11 months, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday. PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City, stated that a total of 34,684 crime incidents were logged from January 1 to November 29 this year, marking a 9.43 percent decline from the 38,294 incidents recorded during the same period last year.

According to Philippines News Agency, this data breaks the trend of increasing crime incidents during the “Ber” months, which usually see a rise in mobility and economic activities. Fajardo emphasized the PNP’s commitment to sustain these gains through intensified anti-criminality efforts, particularly by implementing the Enhanced Managing Police Operations with the aid of force multipliers and the public. The PNP plans to enhance police visibility in public places and churches, especially with the commencement of the nine-day Simbang Gabi (Dawn Masses) on December 16.

Fajardo also highl
ighted that, aside from the holiday season, the police force is bolstering security preparations for next year’s midterm elections. Potential election areas of concern will undergo validation by the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council, which includes the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and election officers. Under the Comelec’s classification of election hotspots, areas under the red category are considered critical, while those under orange have confirmed the presence of armed groups and organized movements outside the law. Villages under the yellow category are identified based on their history of political unrest.

In preparation for the start of the election period on January 12, Fajardo mentioned that the PNP will establish monitoring centers nationwide. Furthermore, she announced that vacation leaves for all police officers would be canceled from December 15, 2024, to January 10, 2025, to ensure adequate manpower during the holiday season.