Central luzon: The Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3) has reported a decline in crime rates across the region in 2025, highlighted by significant strides in anti-drug, organized crime, and firearms operations.

According to Philippines News Agency, PRO-3 achieved 10,725 operational successes in its anti-illegal drugs campaign in 2025. This led to the arrest of 788 high-value individuals and 9,937 street-level suspects. The police seized over 164 kilograms of shabu, 48 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves, 13,745 marijuana plants, and more than 2.5 kilograms of kush marijuana, possessing an estimated value of PHP1.13 billion.

Operations targeting organized crime resulted in the arrest of 47 gang members, with eight others surrendering. Manhunt operations further led to the capture of 19 regional most wanted persons, three provincial most wanted, seven municipal most wanted, and 19 other wanted suspects for various offenses.

In firearms-related operations, police confiscated 1,470 firearms, arrested 1,390 violators, and recorded 2,589 firearms either surrendered or placed under police custody. Crime statistics indicate a drop in total crimes to 35,706 in 2025 from 36,444 in 2024. Index or focus crimes, including homicide, murder, robbery, rape, physical injury, theft, carnapping, and motorcycle theft, decreased to 3,228 from 3,713. The crime solution efficiency for these focus crimes increased to 70.42 percent from 67.01 percent in 2024.

Meanwhile, authorities seized PHP7 million worth of ecstasy drugs concealed inside international parcels at the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City, Pampanga. The operation was conducted by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Clark, in coordination with the Clark Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group and the Bureau of Customs. During the inspection of two parcels from Innsbruck, Austria, destined for Davao City, authorities discovered 4,124 ecstasy tablets valued at PHP7,040,125.