The National Capital Region Police Office reported yesterday a significant drop in the crime rate in Metro Manila and attributed it to the intensified campaign against illegal drugs.
Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde, acting NCRPO chief, said the significant decrease was noted during their weekly crime trend assessment of “Oplan: Tokhang” and “Double Barrel.”
“We are seeing the reduction of street crimes particularly crimes against property Metro-wide,” Albayalde said.
The acting NCRPO chief said the three week implementation of Oplan: Tokhang and Double Barrel from July 1 to 19 resulted into the surrender of 25,230 drug users and pushers, arrest of 1,025, including two Taiwanese.
The anti-crime efforts also resulted into the neutralization of 106 others, the recovery of 78 firearms, including a grenade, and 19 bladed weapons.
Albayalde said police confiscated 99 kilos of crystalline granules, 298 kilos of liquid shabu, 290.453 grams of shabu, 18,295.1382 grams and eight sachets of marijuana with an estimated value of P1,706,797,560.
Street crimes also went down from July 1 to 19 compared to the first semester of 2016.
Robbery cases went down from 85 to 59, theft from 176 to 113, carnapping from eight to zero, motornapping from 29 to 10, and physical injuries from 97 to 72.
Albayalde said that Oplan: Tokhang and Double Barrel greatly contributed to the reduction of street crimes.
(Francis T. Wakefield)