Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla refuted the claim of former President Rodrigo Duterte during a Senate hearing on Monday that the end of the previous administration’s drug war allowed criminal elements to resurface.
“With utmost respect for former President Duterte’s leadership, we believe that his perception of an escalating crime rate does not reflect the reality supported by concrete data. The peace and order situation remains a top priority for the Marcos Administration, and we are committed to assuring the Filipino people that our nation is on a path toward greater stability and security,” Remulla said.
He emphasized that “the peace and order situation in our country is not only stable but has also dramatically improved.”
According to Remulla, the Department of Justice (DOJ) categorically dismisses Duterte’s statements as anecdotal and lacking empirical support.
Remulla cited a report submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wherein the total number of recorded crimes from July 1, 2022, to January 31, 2024, plummeted to 324,368, representing a 10.66-percent decrease from the 363,075 crimes recorded between December 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022.
He noted that seven out of eight focus crimes have seen significant declines, including a reduction in rape (11.08 percent), physical injury (10.59 percent), robbery (2.26 percent), murder (10.17 percent), carnapping (23.27 percent), and homicide (0.91 percent).
Meanwhile, the only exception is theft, which experienced an increase of 4.79 percent.
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