Manila, May 24 -- The Philippines' crime rate dropped by 16 percent during the first 43 days of implementation of the anti-crime program "Safer Cities" initiative, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.

Data show that a total of 3,776 focus crimes were recorded from April 6, when the campaign was launched, to May 18.

This was lower than the 4,495 focus crimes recorded from Feb. 22 to April 5, reflecting a decrease of 719 cases or 15.99 percent.

All eight focus crimes -- murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, car theft and motorcycle theft -- registered decreases during the monitoring period.

Rape cases fell by 30.61 percent; carnapping of motor vehicles, 28.20 percent; physical injury, 25.93 percent; robbe...