Police recorded nearly 1,500 fewer focus crime incidents across the Philippines during the first eight months of 2026, with declines reported across all categories monitored by the Philippine National Police.
Figures released Tuesday showed 2,087 incidents from January through August, compared with 3,584 during the same period in 2025. The difference of 1,497 cases translated to a 41.77 percent decrease.
The PNP classifies several offenses as focus crimes, including homicide, robbery, theft, physical injuries, rape and the carnapping of motorcycles and other motor vehicles.
Separate year-on-year figures for August showed motor vehicle carnapping registering the sharpest decline at 67.74 percent. Rape was down 58.65 percent, while motorcycle carnapping fell 53.64 percent.
Physical injuries decreased by 46.83 percent, while theft cases were 41.67 percent lower. Robbery declined by 33.16 percent compared with August last year.
Homicide showed the smallest improvement among the categories, falling by 3.33 percent.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. attributed the overall decline partly to continued police visibility and preventive operations, but acknowledged that incidents that continue to occur still require attention.
The PNP said it intends to maintain crime prevention efforts while focusing resources on persistent public safety concerns despite the lower number of recorded cases.