# Location and Type of Crimes in The Philippines: Insights for Crime Prevention and Management

**Authors:** Liene Leikuma-Rimicane, Roel F. Ceballos, Milton Norman Medina  
**arXiv:** [2302.04572](https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.04572)  
**Date:** 2023-02-09  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2302.04572v1/

## Key points

- Study funded by ESF Project No. 8.2.2.0/20/I/003 "Strengthening of Professional Competence of Daugavpils University Academic Personnel of Strategic Specialization Branches 3rd Call"
- Investigated association between location and types of crimes in the Philippines
- Explored impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on crime incidence
- Document review using datasets from Philippine Statistics Authority-Annual Statistical Yearbook (PSA-ASY)
- Index crimes categorized into crimes against persons and crimes against property
- Analyzed incidence of each crime type for different administrative regions in the Philippines
- Decline in incidence of index crimes due to government efforts to combat criminality
- COVID-19 pandemic contributed to decline in crime incidence
- Police surveillance should focus on highly populated areas during community lockdowns
- Specific interventions targeting sexual violence should be implemented
- Recommendations for Philippine National Police to increase campaign against violence towards women and enhance workforce visibility in remote and densely populated areas
- Results can inform local government units when developing programs and plans for crime prevention
- Future research suggested precinct-level analysis for more detailed understanding of crime surveillance patterns

## Summary

This study, funded by ESF Project No. 8.2.2.0/20/I/003 "Strengthening of Professional Competence of Daugavpils University Academic Personnel of Strategic Specialization Branches 3rd Call," aimed to investigate the association between location and types of crimes in the Philippines and understand the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on crime incidence. The researchers conducted a document review using datasets from the Philippine Statistics Authority-Annual Statistical Yearbook (PSA-ASY) to collect data on index crimes in the Philippines from 2016 to 2020. The index crimes were categorized into two major groups: crimes against persons and crimes against property. The incidence of each crime type was analyzed for different administrative regions in the Philippines. To determine associations between locations and types of index crimes, the researchers used chi-square tests and correlation plots of chi-square residuals. The results indicated that there has been a steady decline in the incidence of index crimes in the Philippines due to ongoing efforts by the government to combat criminality. Additionally, it was found that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this decline in crime incidence. The findings suggest that during community lockdowns, police surveillance activities should be focused on highly populated areas and specific interventions targeting sexual violence should be implemented. To address these issues effectively, it is recommended that the Philippine National Police increase its campaign against violence towards women and enhance workforce visibility, particularly in remote and densely populated areas. The results of this study can serve as valuable input for local government units when developing programs and plans for crime prevention. For future research, it is suggested that precinct-level analysis be conducted to gain a more detailed understanding of crime surveillance patterns. Overall, this study provides insights into crime prevention and management strategies in the Philippines, highlighting both government efforts and pandemic-related factors influencing crime incidence levels.