House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. | PHOTO: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has urged the public to be vigilant against 鈥渇ake news鈥� about heightened crime rates across the country, saying that data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) show a different story.
In a statement on Wednesday, Romualdez聽said that it is fake news and not crime that fuels fear, and Filipinos should stop spreading panic.
鈥淟et us not be a spokesperson of lies. While real crime is going down, fabricated stories and scripted videos are spreading like wildfire online,鈥� he said.
鈥淔ear is being peddled for clicks and views. That鈥檚 not just irresponsible鈥攊t鈥檚 dangerous,鈥� he added.
On social media, netizens have shared posts from pages showing crimes allegedly perpetrated or implied to have happened in the Philippines.
However, some netizens have questioned if the incidents really occurred in the country, including one video shared on Instagram where it seems like a right-hand drive car was used by suspects attempting to rob a house. The Philippines uses left-hand drive vehicles.
According to Romualdez, PNP data showed that crime rates 鈥� including for focus crimes of theft, robbery, rape, murder, homicide, physical injury, and carnapping 鈥� have gone down.
PNP said crime rates nationwide have dropped by 18.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the last quarter of 2024.聽 Focus crimes, meanwhile, decreased by 26.7 percent from January 1 to February 14 in 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.
READ: Nationwide crime rate drops by 26% from Jan 1 to Feb 14, says PNP
鈥淭hese are not just numbers. Every crime prevented is a life protected, a family spared. But these real gains are being drowned out by false narratives designed to stoke fear and mistrust,鈥� Romualdez said.
鈥淲hen people stage crimes just to go viral, they鈥檙e not just misleading the public鈥攖hey鈥檙e mocking real victims and sabotaging police work,鈥� he added.聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 an insult to every Filipino who wants genuine peace and order.鈥�
On Tuesday, Romualdez said the quick arrest of a motorist who shot a motorcycle rider in Antipolo City shows how far the PNP has improved in terms of response time.
Last Sunday, netizens caught on camera at least two motorcycle riders mauling a driver of a black sports utility vehicle (SUV) along the westbound lane of the Marikina-Infanta Highway in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City.
After being ganged up, the driver of the black SUV, identified as a certain 鈥淜enneth鈥�, drew a pistol and fired upon the two riders while accidentally hitting his wife.聽聽The suspect was subsequently arrested by police officers at a checkpoint.
READ: Road rage shooting suspect in Antipolo arrested聽
Romualdez believes social media can be used to help the police track down suspects and criminals.
鈥淪ocial media is a powerful tool. But when it鈥檚 used to manufacture lies and sow panic, it becomes a threat to national stability,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淔reedom of speech does not mean freedom to mislead and deceive.鈥�
鈥淚f we want a New Philippines, we all have to be part of the solution.聽 Stay vigilant.聽 Report suspicious activities,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淥ur streets are safer. That鈥檚 the truth. But when fake crime content dominates social media, people are made to feel otherwise. We must not let lies erase the progress we鈥檝e made.鈥�