Contrary to the government’s recent claim that the Philippines is safer and people are more secure, a recent Social Weather Stations survey indicated a concerning increase in traditional crimes and cybercrime victimization rates compared to previous polls.

Conducted from September 14-23, 2024 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), Visayas, and Mindanao, the Third Quarter 2024 Social Weather Survey results found 6.1% of families reporting victimization by any of the common crimes (pickpocketing or robbery of personal property, break-ins, carnapping, and physical violence) within the past six months.

This figure is significantly higher than the 3.8% reported in June 2024 and the highest rate since the 8.1% recorded in September 2023.

The national survey also showed a notable rise in cybercrime victimization, with 7.2% of families reporting such incidents in September 2024.

According to the SWS, this represents a stark increase from the 3.7% reported in June 2024, setting a new record-high for cybercrime victimization.

These findings, it said, underscore the importance of addressing both traditional and modern forms of criminal activities to ensure the safety and security of families and individuals in the community.

‘Complete opposite?’

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in a statement on October 28, said there is no truth to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim during the Senate inquiry on the drug war that crimes remain rampant in the country.

“Statistics from the Philippine National Police show the complete opposite. There has been a widespread decline in crime across the board,” his statement read. “Moreover, we have achieved stability and maintained peace and order in our country without foregoing due process nor setting aside the basic human rights of any Filipino.”

He said the incident which Duterte cited – of a drug raid in San Miguel, Manila – is based on outdated information.

“All of this shows that our country is safer, our people more secure, and our future more assured than ever before under the stewardship of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” he added.

The SWS report highlighted that neighborhood fears stay high based on the following survey findings:

• 56% of Filipino adults are fearful of burglary, hardly changing from 55% in June 2024;
• 48% feared walking the streets at night, barely changing from 50% in June 2024; and
• 41% noticed many drug addicts in the neighborhood

In its report released on November 9, SWS asked respondents in each quarterly survey whether any household member has become a victim of street robbery, home break-in, or violence in the past six months. It added motor vehicle theft in 1992 to its list of crimes specifically monitored.

In June 2023, SWS said it began monitoring cybercrime, the first addition in thirty years. The exact phrasing of the survey question was: “Ngayon, nais po naming malamanang karanasan ninyo at ng iba pang miyembro ng inyongpamilyang nakatira dito, tungkol sa krimen. Nitongnakaraang 6 buwan, kayo ba o kahit na sinong miyembrong inyong pamilya ay naging biktima ng... (Cybercrime tulad ng online scam, pag-hack ng account, o cyberbullying)? [Now, we would also like to know your experiences and those of other family members residing here regarding crime. In the past 6 months, have you or any member of your family been a victim of... (Cybercrime like online scam, hacking, or cyberbullying)?].”

Victimization by common crimes reported in SWS surveys is much higher than the number of crimes reported to the police.

Victimization by property crimes rises to 5.5%

As of September 2024, 5.5% of families reported victimization by any of the three property crimes – pickpocketing or street robbery, burglary or break-ins, and carnapping – within the past six months. This is slightly higher than the 3.5% of June 2024 and the highest since the 7.8% in September 2023.

Except in June 2016, when it was at 10.9%, victimization by property crimes has been at single-digit levels from March 2012 to September 2024.

Street robbery, break-ins, physical violence rise

The September 2024 survey found that 4.0% of families had been victimized by street robbery during the past six months, up from 1.9% in June 2024.

It found 2.3% of families victimized by break-ins, up from 1.7%.

Among families owning any motor vehicle, the survey found that 0.5% were robbed of it in the past six months, unchanged from June 2024.

The survey also found 0.8% of families with members hurt by physical violence within the past six months, barely changing from 0.5% in June 2024.

Street robberies rise in all areas

Quarterly victimization by street robbery rose in Metro Manila from 3.7% in June 2024 to 6.0% in September 2024, in Balance Luzon from 1.8% to 4.5%, in the Visayas from 1.0% to 3.0%, and in Mindanao from 1.7% to 2.7%.

Quarterly victimization by break-ins also increased in Metro Manila from 1.7% in June 2024 to 2.7% in September 2024, in Balance Luzon from 1.5% to 1.8%, and in the Visayas from 1.3% to 4.7%. However, it dropped in Mindanao from 2.3% to 1.0%.

Carnapping up in Metro Manila, Visayas

Compared to June 2024, quarterly victimization by carnapping among vehicle-owning sample families rose in Metro Manila from 0.3% to 1.9% and in the Visayas from 0.3% to 1.3%.

Cases of physical violence up

Quarterly victimization by physical violence rose in Metro Manila from 0.3% in June 2024 to 1% in September 2024, in the Visayas from 0.3% to 1.3%, and in Mindanao from 0.3% to 0.7%. It stayed at 0.7% in Balance Luzon.

Cybercrime cases rise in all areas

Quarterly victimization by cybercrime rose in Metro Manila from 3% in June 2024 to 12.3% in September 2024, in Balance Luzon from 5.2% to 6.3%, in the Visayas from 1.7% to 7.7%, and in Mindanao from 3.0% to 5.7%.

Fear of burglaries rises

Since 1985, SWS has regularly included two survey items on whether people in the neighborhood are usually afraid: (a) that robbers might break into their homes and (b) to walk in the streets at night because it is unsafe. In 2005, SWS added the item on whether (c) there are many drug addicts in the neighborhood.

In general, the September 2024 survey found 56% of adults agreeing with the statement, “In this neighborhood, people are usually afraid that robbers might break into their houses (Sa lugar na ito, ang mga tao ay karaniwangnatatakot na baka may mga magnanakaw namakakapasok sa loob ng kanilang tahanan).” This is up by 1 point from the 55% in June 2024.

By area, the percentage of those fearing burglaries remained highest in Metro Manila at 68%, followed by Balance Luzon at 58%, Mindanao at 52%, and the Visayas at 45%.

Compared to June 2024, fear of burglaries rose from 39% in the Visayas and 43% in Mindanao. However, it fell slightly from 70% in Metro Manila and 64% in Balance Luzon.

Fear of unsafe streets

The September 2024 survey found 48% nationwide agreeing with the statement, “In this neighborhood, people are usually afraid to walk in the street at night because it is not safe (Sa lugar na ito, ang mga tao ay karaniwangnatatakot maglakad sa kalye sa gabi dahilmapanganib).” This barely moved from 50% in June 2024.

By area, the highest percentage of people fearing unsafe streets was in Metro Manila, at 57%, followed by Balance Luzon at 50%, the Visayas at 46%, and Mindanao at 42%.

Compared to June 2024, fear of unsafe streets rose from 38% in the Visayas to 58% in Metro Manila, while it fell from 55% in Balance Luzon to 44% in Mindanao.

Visibility of drug addicts

The September 2024 survey also found 41% agreeing with the statement, “In this neighborhood, there are already very many people addicted to banned drugs.” 

Families fearing the presence of many drug addicts were highest in Metro Manila at 66%, followed by Balance Luzon at 44%, Mindanao at 30%, and the Visayas at 29%.

Survey background

The Third Quarter 2024 Social Weather Survey used the standard face-to-face interviewing method.

The only exceptions were early in the pandemic when movement restrictions made face-to-face interviews impossible, so mobile phone interviews were conducted. Normal face-to-face field operations resumed in November 2020. The sampling error margins are ±2.8% for national percentages and ±5.7% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The area estimates were weighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2024 to obtain the national estimates.

The SWS survey questions about families victimized by common crimes and feelings of neighborhood insecurity are directed to an adult respondent. Such items are non-commissioned, always included in SWS's initiative, and released as a public service.

SWS employs its own staff for questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork, data processing, and analysis and does not outsource any of its survey operations. (AAA)