The cities of Davao and Valenzuela ranked second and third in the list of Southeast Asian cities with the lowest crime rates, according to online database Numbeo. Singapore topped the list.
The figures are based on the perceptions of the web site’s visitors in the past three years. Numbeo is “the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide.” It gives current information on each city’s cost of living, housing indicators, health care, traffic, crime, and pollution.
The release of the list Tuesday was announced by Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian who said that Numbeo listed Davao and Valenzuela as ranking among those with low crime index and high safety index.
Gatchalian is a former mayor of Valenzuela which is now headed by his brother, Mayor Rex Gatchalian.
Valenzuela is part of Metro Manila which has localities considered among the most crime prone cities in the country.
On the other hand, Davao City, with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as chief executive, has a reputation as a haven for “salvaging” (summary execution) of suspected criminals, according to human rights groups. Duterte recently reported that Davao “is considered one of the safest cities in the world.”
The Mindanao city has been under close watch by various human rights groups.
MANILA BULLETIN
