SWS: 1.4-M Filipino families victim of crimes in past 6 months

File photo
File photo

AROUND 6.1 percent or an estimated 1.4 million Filipino families have fallen victims to several crimes in the past six months, according to the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The September 15 to 23 poll found that the number of families who have been victimized by common crimes was slightly up by 0.7 percentage point from June's 5.3 percent or an estimated 1.2 million and the same from September 2017's 6.1 percent.

The SWS revealed that some 5.6 percent or an estimated 1.3 million Filipino families were victimized by street robbery, burglary, or car theft, up by 0.5 percentage point than June's 5.1 percent or an estimated 1.2 million but lower than March's 6.1 percent or an estimated 1.4 million.

About two percent or 474,000 families were victimized by burglary (higher than June's 1.8 percent or 431,000); 0.6 percent or around 50,000 by robbery (hardly moving from June's 0.5 percent or 52,000); and 4.6 percent or estimated 1.1 million by street robbery (up from June's four percent or estimated 930,000).

The September survey showed that 52 percent of adult Filipinos feared that robbers might break into their houses, three percentage points below than the 55 percent recorded in June.

Some 46 percent were afraid to walk in unsafe streets at night, while 41 percent expressed fear over the presence of reported drug addicts in their respective areas.

The SWS also found that about 0.7 percent or an estimated 159,000 families were hurt by physical violence within the past six months, up by 0.5 percentage point from the record-low 0.2 percent or estimated 45,000 in June.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Palace welcomed the latest poll results, which are “identical to the statistic for the same period in the previous year.”

“Although 0.7 percent higher than the second quarter, this is the lowest third quarter crime victimization reported in recent years, the highest being 13 percent in September 2010,” the Palace official said.

Panelo noted that President Rodrigo Duterte's administration made “significant strides” through its war against criminality, including those related to illegal drugs.

He said the government's efforts to curb criminality and illegal drugs allow Filipinos to feel “safer” now.

“It also becomes clear that those who remain to dissent the President's policies are either people who are connected with illegal activities or politicians belonging to the opposition, as well as their blind followers, who cannot accept the feats of the government,” Panelo said.

“This achievement, however, will not render us complacent. As [Duterte] said, his campaign against criminality and illegal narcotics shall be pursued until the last day of his term to ensure that our streets are completely safe from criminals, drug personalities and other rogue elements,” he added.

The SWS interviewed 1,500 adult respondents using sampling error margins of ±3 percentage points for national percentages, ±4 for Balance Luzon, and ±6 percentage points each for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao. (SunStar Philippines)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph