Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Monday, April 4, that the country’s crime volume has increased by more than 5 percent last month.
A total of 1,584 crimes have been noted by the Department of Interior and Local Government to contribute to the increase from February to March, 2022.
Año said in a statement, “Ang ating total crime incident nung February ay 28,214. Kung titignan natin, sa Marso ay 29,798. So, mayroong 5.61 percent na pagtaas, additional 1,584. Kung titignan natin ‘yung index crime volume from 2,726 ay naging 2,841 o may dagdag na 115.”
The Interior Secretary said theft rose from 921 to 995 incidents, murder rose from 292 to 328, while crimes of physical injuries hiked from 336 to 386, citing that the spike may be due to the easing of alert levels in majority of the country’s regions.
In March, the national government has lowered most of the regions to Alert Level 1 for COVID-19, allowing more freedom for residents to move around.
“So, although this is just a small increase, it may be because of relaxing protocols, more mobility, people go out, so the public should always take extra care,” Año added. TNF