Manila, April 26 -- The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recorded a significant drop in index crime volume during its first 21 months, the Palace reported on Friday.

Citing a report by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and National Peace and Order Council chairperson Benjamin Abalos Jr. during a meeting in Malacanang in Manila, the PCO said the country's index crime volume decreased by 63.59 percent -- from 196,519 between July 1, 2016 and April 21, 2018 to 71,544 between July 1, 2022 and April 21, 2024.

The report also indicated a decline in the average monthly crime rate for the same periods from 21.92 to 15.04.

Focus crimes such as theft, physical injury, robbery, rape, murder, carn...