PNP Reports 25% Drop in Crime — Rape Cases Down by More Than Half in Early 2026
The Philippine National Police has some surprisingly good numbers to share: focus crimes dropped by 25 percent in the first two months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. PNP Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. disclosed the figures during a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday, showing a decline from 6,081 cases to 4,532 cases nationwide.
The most dramatic improvement was in rape cases, which recorded a 57.42 percent decrease — dropping from 707 cases in January-February 2025 to just 301 cases this year. Physical injury cases went down by nearly 23 percent, while murder cases dropped by over 10 percent, from 270 to 242. Theft, carnapping of motor vehicles and motorcycles also saw declines across the board.
General Nartatez attributed the downtrend to the PNP's 'effective patrol system,' which he said aims to deny criminals the opportunity to commit crimes while giving officers on the ground the tools they need. Whether the numbers hold up under scrutiny or reflect broader reporting trends remains to be seen, but on paper, it's a significant improvement.
Beyond crime stats, the PNP also reported seizing around ₱1.6 billion worth of illegal drugs in February alone. That haul included 25.14 kilograms of shabu, 1.29 million grams of dried marijuana leaves, over 1.22 million marijuana plants, and smaller amounts of ecstasy and cocaine. A total of 4,782 individuals were arrested in drug operations, with two killed during police encounters.
The police also made a dent in smuggling, confiscating ₱1.55 billion worth of alleged contraband and arresting 522 individuals across 1,520 anti-smuggling operations in February. While crime statistics always warrant healthy skepticism, the PNP's early 2026 numbers paint a picture of a force trying to show results — and for now, the data backs them up.
Source: Manila Bulletin
