The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday rejected claims that law and order are deteriorating in the country, with spokesman Benigno Durana according Arab News: “The crime situation is improving.”

The assassination on Monday of a provincial city mayor, Antonio Halili, has sparked widespread criticism of the government.

Opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes blamed a “culture of violence” for Halili’s murder, saying: “No one is safe now… Nothing justifies this murder.” 

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the killing could be linked to Halili’s alleged involvement in the illicit drug trade. 

“I don’t know who killed him, but I told you don’t (engage in illegal drugs),” said Duterte. However, Halili’s daughter Angeline said her father “would rather die than be a drug lord.”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said: “This is another murder that possibly rode on the wave of killings in the country.” 

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said the killing of priests, prosecutors, and former and incumbent local officials in broad daylight and in full view of the public may be suggestive of the impunity and brazenness of those responsible. The PNP “should feel challenged, if not taunted” by these incidents, he added.

Citing police data, Durana said: “Total crime incidents in the country… went down by 18 percent for the past year compared to the previous year. So to say there’s lawlessness in our country is too much of a stretch.” 

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