THE lower incidence of crimes in the country only shows that President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs and criminality is “effective and efficient,” Malacañang said on Friday, November 1.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement in reaction to the September 27 to 30 survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which showed that families victimized by common crimes in the past three months went down to 5.6 percent or an estimated 1.4 million from seven percent or an estimated 1.7 million registered in June.

“The Palace welcomes the survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations last September, which shows crime victimization subsiding to 5.6 percent from the previous seven percent in June 2019,” Panelo said in a statement.

“The September crime victimization survey validates government data that the campaign against illegal drugs and criminality, a centerpiece program of the Administration, is working effectively and efficiently with the results being significant, palpable, and meaningful,” he added.

The SWS survey revealed that Filipino families who were victims of robbery fell to 3.4 percent or estimated 846,000; burglary, 2.6 percent or estimated 640,000; car theft, 0.3 percent or estimated 40,000; and physical violence (0.5 percent or estimated 133,000).

Panelo said the latest results of the poll results disputed anew the “false” accusations against the Duterte administration.

“Once again, the people have clearly spoken. We consider this a clear repudiation of the black propaganda and the false narratives peddled by those belonging to the political opposition, the left, the activist members of the clergy, and the vocal critics of the President and the current government,” he said. (NASE/SunStar Philippines)