MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) sought to reassure the public on Tuesday that the country’s streets are safe, despite a recent surge in high-profile kidnapping incidents.

During a press briefing at Malacañang, P/Maj. Gen. Roderick Augustus B. Alba, Director for Police Community Relations, addressed concerns surrounding the uptick in crime, particularly kidnappings, which have drawn widespread attention.

“Definitely. Of course, from time to time, mayroon tayong mga crimes na naging highly sensationalized na hindi kaagad masolve. But these are acted upon immediately and for us (they do) not represent the entire situation of our country,” Alba said, acknowledging that certain crimes may become sensationalized but assured the public that such incidents do not reflect the overall safety of the nation.

In response to questions about whether it remains safe to travel, Alba was clear: “Our streets are safe.”

Alba presented data showing a 26 percent drop in crime incidents nationwide from January to April 2025, compared to the same period last year, emphasizing that the PNP’s evaluation is based on verified statistics rather than public perception or political messaging.

“We stick with the reality—what we have now—iyong aming data,” he stated, stressing the importance of relying on actual data rather than public fears or rumors.

While acknowledging the public’s concerns, Alba reiterated the PNP’s commitment to addressing crime. “Sa amin po sa PNP, tuloy-tuloy lang po ang aming kampanya against all forms of lawlessness,” he said.

“We respect the perception of our communities. But we speak of our duties na dapat naming pinapatupad. We shouldn’t be affected by negativities kung mayroon man,” he added, reinforcing the PNP’s focus on upholding public safety.