Manila, April 6 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday reported a 23-percent drop in nationwide focus crimes during Holy Week and the week prior compared to last year.

Focus crimes (murder, homicide, rape, physical injury, carnapping and theft) fell from 1,574 cases last year (April 5 to 20) to 1,207 cases this year (March 21 to April 5), or a decline of 367 cases.

Murder cases slightly decreased from 165 to 160 and homicide from 65 to 49. Robbery fell from 157 to 153 and theft from 508 to 443 cases. Rape saw the biggest drop, plunging from 404 to 139 cases.

Carnapping also decreased, with motor vehicle cases dropping from 13 to 6, and motorcycles from 10 to 4.

"I would like to extend our gratitude to our partner agencies, ...