The Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested a total of 11,265 suspected criminals for various offenses since the start of this year as it revealed a major reduction in the crime rate in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, PNP chief, said those arrested were among the subjects of 14,092 Warrants of Arrest issued by the judiciary in January to June this year.

“The arrested suspects include 19 persons listed as Most Wanted with rewards for their arrest offered by government law enforcement agencies. Three wanted persons were killed in separate armed encounters with lawmen while 123 other wanted suspects surrendered,” said Verzosa.

The official explained that they have been focusing on accounting for wanted criminals, stressing that effective law enforcement is a way of discouraging the commission of crimes as it sends a message to the people that the PNP is serious in implementing the law.

He said this could lead to the reduction of crime incidents not only in urban areas like Metro Manila but also in the provinces.

Quoting reports culled by the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) for instance, Verzosa said the PNP recorded significant reduction in crime incidents, most notably the 68.63 percent drop in Total Crime Volume compared with the crime record for the same period in 2009.

“We attribute this considerable drop in crime volume to the intensified law enforcement and security operations during the nationwide implementation of the 150-day nationwide gun ban for the 2010 national and local elections that was in effect from January to June 2010.

“From this, it is very noticeable that taking away the main instrument of crime, the guns, from the hands of criminal elements, threat groups and other unauthorized individuals has a direct effect to peace and order,” he said.

Based on the same record, the PNP has also recorded similar double-digit reduction in all crime cases categorized as crimes against persons such as murder (54.2 percent), homicide (62.92 percent) and physical injuries (71.74 percent); and crimes against property such as robbery (62.38 percent), theft (65.76 percent), carnapping (53.94 percent) and cattle-rustling (72.47 percent).

Verzosa said they have been continuously crafting measures in order to sustain the dipping crime rate in the country, starting off with the modernization program in the PNP which will focus on the hiring of more cops and procurement of firepower and mobility assets.