MANILA - Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar on Sunday said the country's crime rate was declining as a result of the Duterte administration's campaign against crime and illegal drugs.

"Patuloy na umaani ng positibong resulta ang kampanya kontra droga at krimen ng kasalukuyang administrasyon. Isang buwan matapos umupo sa Malacanang si Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte, bumagsak ang incidence ng crime to 50,817 nung Hulyo 2016 kumpara sa 56,339 na insidente ng krimen nung Hulyo 2015, base po ito sa talaan ng Philippine National Police," Andanar said during an interview with state-run Radyo Ng Bayan.

According to Andanar, index crimes in the country had a 31 percent decrease, from 17,105 in July 2015 to 11,800 crime incidents in July this year.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) defines index crimes as crimes against persons (rape, murder, homicide, etc.) and crimes against property (robbery, theft, etc.).

For Andanar, the decrease is proof that Duterte's war on crime and drugs is more than just a campaign slogan.

"Patunay ito na ang matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon kung saan nakilala ang ating Pangulo ay hindi lamang slogan nung panahon ng kampanya. Ito ay isang pagbabagong mararamdaman ng lahat ng Filipino saan mang sulok sila ng bansa," he explained.

Crimes against property went down 40.3 percent, or 4,476 incidents, while crimes against persons declined by 13.82 percent, or 829 incidents, compared to July 2015.

Andanar also called on the public to continue working with the government to further lessen incidents of crime.

"Panawagan po natin sa ating mamamayan ay patuloy po tayong makipagtulungan sa ating Philippine National Police para mas lalo pong bumaba ang krimen ng ating bansa. Ang pangako po ng ating Pangulo ay malaking bawas po, kundi masawata na po itong iligal na droga sa ating lansangan," Andanar said.