Davao City has concluded the year 2025 with a marked improvement in public safety, recording a substantial decrease in serious criminal incidents, according to official police statistics.
Data covering the period from January 1 to December 15, 2025, shows that the total number of index crimes fell to 518 cases. This represents a significant 23.15 percent decline from the 674 cases reported during the same timeframe in 2024.
Sharp Decline in Theft and Other Focus Crimes
Authorities attribute the positive trend to intensified police visibility, stronger community partnerships, and focused crime-prevention programs under the safety campaign "Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Ang Gusto ng Pulis, Ligtas Ka."
The most dramatic reduction was seen in theft, which has historically been the city's most common offense. Cases plummeted from 293 in 2024 to just 211 in 2025, an impressive 82 percent decrease.
Other focus crimes also saw considerable drops:
- Rape incidents fell from 184 to 121.
- Robbery cases decreased from 67 to 40.
- Motor vehicle carnapping remained minimal with only one reported case in each year.
Police officials highlighted that the downturn in theft and rape reflects the success of sustained neighborhood-level prevention campaigns and better coordination with barangay officials and advocacy groups.
Areas of Concern: A Rise in Violent Incidents
Despite the overall decline, the data revealed an uptick in several violent crime categories, indicating lingering challenges.
Physical injury cases increased from 72 to 84. Other increases were noted in:
- Murder: from 31 to 32 cases.
- Homicide: from 8 to 9 cases.
- Motorcycle theft (carnapping): from 18 to 20 cases.
Law enforcement analysts suggest these increases are often tied to interpersonal conflicts and localized tensions, even as property crimes continue to fall.
Mixed Results Across Police Stations
The performance varied across the city's police stations. Some precincts achieved remarkable turnarounds, while others saw crime numbers rise.
Notable improvements were recorded at:
- Police Station 2: Cases nearly halved from 99 to 46.
- Police Station 18: Dropped from 72 to 46 cases.
- Police Station 3 and Police Station 9 also posted strong gains.
In contrast, Police Station 15 reported a more than doubling of incidents, from 23 to 50. Police Station 6 also saw an increase from 30 to 37 cases.
Solidifying Davao's Reputation for Safety
City officials stated that the overarching downward trend reinforces Davao's standing as one of the Philippines' safest urban centers. This aligns with international surveys that frequently cite the city for its high Safety Index ratings.
The significant 23.15 percent reduction in index crimes underscores the impact of coordinated policing strategies and active community engagement under the "Ligtas Ka" initiative. However, the rise in physical injuries and select violent crimes signals that maintaining public safety remains a shared and ongoing responsibility for both authorities and residents.
