Iloilo crime stats show double-digit drop across major offenses

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Crime incidents in Iloilo declined in 2025, with both index and nonindex offenses posting significant reductions, based on police data presented during the first quarter Peace and Order Council Meeting on March 23.

Data from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office showed that index crimes fell by 17.49 percent, from 852 cases in 2024 to 703 in 2025, reflecting 149 fewer incidents over the one-year period.

Index crimes are serious offenses tracked by law enforcement as key indicators of public safety, including murder, homicide, robbery, theft, rape, physical injury, and carnapping.

Among the eight focus crimes, theft registered the steepest decline, falling by 71 cases, or 31.14 percent, from 228 in 2024 to 157 in 2025.

Physical injury cases also dropped significantly, decreasing by 44 cases, or 23.66 percent, from 186 to 142.

Homicide cases went down from 41 to 36, while murder incidents slightly declined from 79 to 77.

Robbery cases also saw a minor reduction, from 74 to 71.

Rape cases decreased from 212 to 201, equivalent to a 5.19 percent drop.

Car theft incidents also showed improvement.

Motorcycle carnapping cases dropped from 31 to 19, while motor vehicle carnapping cases were reduced to zero in 2025 from one recorded incident the previous year.

Nonindex crimes also followed a downward trend, declining by 9.96 percent, from 2,672 cases in 2024 to 2,406 in 2025, or 266 fewer incidents.

Nonindex crimes include violations of special laws, local ordinances, and other offenses not classified among the eight focus crimes but still tracked by police as part of overall crime volume monitoring.

Violations of special laws, which comprise the largest share of nonindex crimes, fell from 1,312 to 1,161 cases.

Other nonindex crimes decreased from 955 to 887, while attempted and frustrated crimes dropped from 405 to 358.

The Iloilo Provincial Government credited the police office for the sustained decline, citing effective law enforcement strategies and strengthened coordination on the ground.

It also underscored the role of continued collaboration among law enforcement agencies, local government units, and communities in maintaining peace and order across the province.

The provincial government reaffirmed its commitment to support law enforcement efforts and sustain initiatives that will further improve public safety in Iloilo.