Palace: Crime rate down under PNoy

MANILA, Philippines - Amid recent reports of a rise in criminal incidence, Malacañang on Wednesday refuted claims that criminality has worsened under the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III.

Presidential Communication Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said a recent research citing the Philippine Statistical Authority and the Senate Economic Planning Office as sources revealed that crime incidence had been dropping since 2010.

Coloma also noted that the crime solution rate has improved from 13 percent to 37 percent.

But despite these figures, the Palace is far from satisfied.

"As far as we are concerned, that is not acceptable because this means that only one out of three crimes are being solved," Coloma said in a press briefing on Wednesday. "If citizens are aware that the crime will remain unsolved anyway, then this would really embolden criminals in committing their misdeeds."

On Tuesday, Coloma said the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be increasing police visibility in communities as a deterrent after a recent spate of killings, the latest of which was the murder of Cebu-based businessman Richard King in Davao City and international race car driver Enzo Pastor in Quezon City.

Coloma also called for continued vigilance among citizens to help deter crime since the PNP lacks manpower.

He said in 1986, the Philippines had 125,000 cops for a population of 50 million, which translates to one cop for every 400 people.

But today, the country has 148,000 policemen for a population of 97 million or a ratio of one cop for every 675 people, Coloma lamented.