Physical injury, theft, rape remain prevalent crimes in 2024 — PNP

Crimes of physical injury, theft, and rape remained prevalent in 2024, but the number of incidents for such crimes have declined from last year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported.

According to data shared by PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo to GMA News Online, the incidents recorded from January 1, 2024 to December 13, 2024 include the following:

• Theft - 12,144
• Rape - 7,772
• Physical injury - 4,865

These figures are lower compared to those logged in the same period of last year:

• Theft - 12,532
• Rape - 10, 405
• Physical injury - 4,906

GMA Integrated News has reported cases of these crimes that caught the public's attention.

THEFT

Stolen Amorsolo painting

An 88-year-old piece by the late National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, the "Mango Harvesters" (1936), was stolen from Hofileña Museum in Silay, Negros Occidental last July 3.

According to the report, tour guides were unable to notice that the perpetrators had already gone to the second floor of the museum due to the large number of visitors at the time.

One of the suspects hid the painting inside a bag then left the museum.

The Silay City Police was able to identify the suspects using CCTV footage.

The painting was later recovered after two suspects in the crime attempted to sell the masterpiece for P3.5 million in Quezon City.

Charges of theft were filed against the suspects.

For its part, the PNP said theft is common in crowded places or when there are events.

"Not only because of the increased economic activities during may mga events, karaniwan 'yan ang nakikita natin kapag nasa palengke, nasa mall, kasama na rin dito 'yung mga salisi and even 'yung mga qualified theft naka-count 'yan," said Fajardo.

(Not only because of the increased economic activities during events, but it is common in markets, malls. Incidents of salisi and even qualified theft is counted as a theft case.)

"Marami 'yung mga insidente natin na 'yung perpetrators or magnanakaw ay mismong mga empleyado. So kaya mataas din 'yung theft incidents natin," she added.

(We also have incidents where the perpetrators or thieves are the employees. So that also contributes to our high theft incidents.)

PHYSICAL INJURY

Man splashes muriatic acid during Wattah Wattah festival in San Juan

A man was arrested for splashing muriatic acid during the traditional "basaan" (splashing of water) at the "Wattah Wattah" festival in San Juan City on June 27.

The victim was reportedly just watching the festivities from the sidelines when the incident occurred.

The Philippine National Police's investigation showed that the suspect brought muriatic acid because of his hatred towards participants of the annual festival that celebrates San Juan City's patron saint, Saint John the Baptist.

The suspect was arrested and charged for physical injury, but was later released on bail.

However, this was just one of the incidents during the festival as the local government received complaints on unruly behavior by participants of the festivities.

This pushed San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora to cease a city-wide holding of the festival in 2025, instead it will be just held in designated "basaan zones."

Any actions that cause harm to someone is a case of physical injury, which can happen amid merriment in festivities, the PNP said.

"Itong physical injury na ito, ito 'yung mga kasong tinatawag natin crimes against person na nagre-resulta, nagkaroon ng pikunan, pisikalan," said Fajardo.

(These cases of physical injury are considered as crimes against a person, wherein tempers flare and results in physical altercations.)

Cases of physical injuries may also happen during drinking sprees, leading to physical confrontations.

"Dito sa physical injury ay karamihan naman dito ay naguugat sa doon sa mga inuman, sa mga drinking spree kung saan nagkakapikunan 'yung mga nag-iinuman at nagreresulta sa sigalot… Minsan mas malubha pa maliban dun sa physical injuries," Fajardo added.

(Some of the physical injury cases usually stem from drinking sprees, where people become short-tempered. This results in physical altercations… and sometimes it could lead to more than just physical injuries.)

RAPE

Man allegedly rapes elderly mother in Candijay, Bohol

A 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping his 61-year-old mother in Candijay, Bohol.

The man is reportedly an ex-convict who was recently released from jail after 14 years of imprisonment for murder.

The mother told authorities that she was first raped by her own son when she was around 40 years old. Her son was in his early twenties at the time.

The victim added that she was threatened by the suspect not to report the incident to the authorities or she would be killed.

The alleged rape happened again in the early morning of September 27. Once again, she was threatened that she would be killed if she reported the offense, the mother said.

While the number of rape cases declined this year, the PNP noted that some of the reported cases were incestuous rape, or wherein the suspects are the victim's family member.

"Sa rape, malaki talaga 'yung binaba ng kaso. Pero 'yung karamihan dito ay nakakalungkot, 'yung mga tinatawag natin na mga incestuous rape na 'yung mga mismong perpetrators ay 'yung kanilang mga malalapit na mga kaanak, 'yung iba mga tatay pa, 'yung mga tiyuhin, mga pinsan," said Fajardo.

(Although there's a huge drop in cases, it is saddening that most of these are incestuous rape, wherein the perpetrators are their relatives like their own father, uncles, or cousin.)

Lower cases

The PNP cited the lower figures on the incidents of theft, physical injury, and rape to various factors.

For instance, the PNP deployed more forces in crowded places to handle theft cases.

"Increased deployment natin particularly sa mga convergence points, sa mga transportation hubs, doon sa mga normally nakikita natin 'yung mataas na insidente. Pati sa mga employers natin ay we keep on reminding them na kapag kukuha sila ng empleyado ay siguraduhin na lang maganda 'yung background mga kinukuha nilang mga empleyado para hindi sila mabiktima ng qualified theft cases," said Fajardo.

(We increased police deployment in convergence points like transportation hubs, where cases are usually high. We also remind employers to be careful in hiring employees to avoid qualified theft cases.)

Further, the national police body said that it also encouraged local government units to implement curfew hours to prevent late night altercations.

"Ine-encourage natin 'yung mga local government units down to barangay, kumbaga magpasa ng mga barangay ordinances, municipal ordinances na magkaroon sila ng mga curfews to prevent 'yung mga inuman sa gabi at kapag naglasingan doon ay nagsisimula na 'yung away," the PNP spokesperson said.

(We encourage local government units, even down to the barangays, to implement ordinances on curfew to prevent late night drinking sessions where brawls may occur.)

In rape cases, the PNP said that barangay health workers were tapped for informational drives targeted to families in living in informal areas.

"Ito rin 'yung pinaigting natin 'yung educational and information awareness natin sa mga barangay, tinap natin 'yung mga barangay health workers to educate itong mga pami-milya, 'yung mga halos magkakadikit, 'yung wala ng mga kwarto, wala nang pagitan sa tinitirhan," said Fajardo.

(We also strengthened our educational and information awareness in the barangays, where we tapped barangay health workers to educate families living in crowded homes.) — VDV/RSJ, GMA Integrated News