Crime incidents nationwide dropped by 15% over a two-month period, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Monday, as the government expanded its Safer Cities Initiative to cover areas outside Metro Manila.

At a press conference on May 11, Remulla said the decline was recorded from March 4 to April 4 and April 4 to May 4, following intensified enforcement operations and coordination among law enforcement units.

“In the entire Philippines, there’s been a 15% reduction from March to April and from April to May,” Remulla said. “Yung two months na iyon ay may 15% reduction na.”

He said the initiative, also known as the Safer Metro Manila Initiative, has already been implemented nationwide after a command conference among security officials.

“Nagumpisa na. It began already,” he said when asked about rollout outside the capital region.

Remulla said the reduction was reflected across several crime categories, including a steep drop in violent incidents.

He reported that rape cases declined by about 60%, which he linked in part to stricter enforcement against public drinking and street disturbances.

“Dahil wala nang inuman sa kalye, rape has gone down by 60%,” he said.

He also said physical injuries were down by 40%, noting that many violent encounters typically begin with street-level altercations.

“Physical injuries are down 40%,” he added.

Remulla said the overall trend suggests improved public safety, particularly for vulnerable groups.

“I think the people feel safer for their children and safer for the women especially who are going home from work,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police reported a separate 12% decline in focus crimes nationwide from April 6 to May 6, or from 3,047 to 2,684 incidents, following the rollout of the Safer Cities Initiative in urban and high-risk areas.

The PNP said the figures reflect early gains from intensified anti-criminality operations, with several categories of focus crimes also showing declines during the monitoring period.