MANILA, Jan. 9 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday reported that the country's crime rate has dropped by 6 percent from July to December last year -- the first six months of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s term.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said 105,568 crime incidents were recorded in the second half of 2022 -- 6.37 percent lower than the 112,746 incidents recorded during the same period in 2021.

Mindanao posted the highest decline in crime incidents at 12.29 percent, followed by Luzon at 7.35 percent.

However, the Visayas logged a 5.65 percent increase in crime incidents.

"For both six-month periods, theft, rape, and physical injury registered as top three most prevalent crim...