PNP chief blames social media for ‘impression’ that crimes are worsening
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil (PNA file photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil has blamed social media for the “impression” that crimes in the country are worsening, saying incidents have declined according to the law enforcement agency’s data.
Marbil said on Saturday that crime rates declined by 26.76 percent since January 1, 2025 but did not provide a breakdown of the statistics.
“Crime data shows that incidents have declined, yet the visibility of certain cases, especially on social media, can give the impression that crime is worsening,” Marbil’s statement reads.
“This is a reality we must acknowledge and address through proactive communication and responsible information-sharing,” it adds.
READ: Crime rate down by 18.4% in Q1 2025 – PNP
The PNP previously reported that crime was down by 18.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the last quarter of 2024.
Marbil urged PNP units to “[engage] the community,” called for an increase in media literacy education, and appealed to the media to “present a fair representation of both crime incidents and law enforcement success.”
