9

Chapter I

Introduction:

The Case Study of Gang related violence involving minors in Baguio City is a study why crimes in Baguio City always involves minors which is gang related. They commit crimes such as physical injuries, robbery, theft, rape, selling and using drugs, and also killing.

This case study aims to give awareness and inform teenagers to avoid themselves to join any gang or group that may lead or tempt them to do any crimes. It may also give information or ratio of gang related violence involving minors in the city of Baguio. The information brought by this case study may give ideas or ways on the prevention of gang related violence involving minors or teenagers in the city.

Statement of the Problem:

The purpose of the study is to research why most crimes in Baguio City always involve minors as suspects and youth gang related violence. It is also to study whether this case is increasing or decreasing in the city of Baguio.

Specifically, this sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the general status of gang related violence involving minors in Baguio City for the year 2015-2018?

2. What are the violence or crime usually committed by a minor?

3. What are the intervention programs of the agency in order to help resolve this kind of issue?

Fraternities and gangs is one the most popular brotherhood before even until now wherein most teenagers or minors find their comfort and superiority. Some teenagers join fraternities and gangs just for fun and some join for the sake of being belong to a group for protection. In some cases, most teenagers join because of family problems and school problems that’s why fraternities and gangs become their outlet. In Baguio City, most crimes involve minors. Youth are easily influenced by the pressure of their environment.

Data to be gathered includes age, crimes committed, and gender. Strain theory suggests that crime is brought on by the overwhelming strain that people feel when they have the personal aspirations but no way to reach them. “Wealth and Power are allocated disproportionately between economic classes and the frustration of not being able to achieve goals and strain of not having opportunities are what influence a person’s choice to commit crime.” (Featherstone and Deflem, 2003). According to strain theorists, the youth feel that the only chance to obtain the things they desire is to join gangs. They see other gang members in the community with money from things such as drug sales and feel that joining the gang will benefit them in the same way. Nowadays, places and every corner in the city of Baguio is full of gangs and this gangs involves minors. Gangs in Baguio City includes i) Hypebeast, ii) Brownside, iii) Sudden Death Gang, iv) Bagtown Style, v) Blackcards, and many more. Most news and reports are about youth gang related violence.

It is the youth in which the city of Baguio is much concern.“ Youth is the hope of the Nation.” (Jose Rizal). If the youth will be neglected, it will have a negative impact in the future and generations to come.

Variables: IPO

Figure 1 Paradigm of the study

The operational paradigm of the study showed the flow of the study and the relationship of variables in which Input, Process, Output (IPO) method was used as shown below.

Input

Process/Method

Output(hypothesis)

Age

How young is involved

in the said violence?

Construct questions that may help in collecting or gathering of data.

Gang related violence is often reported in Baguio City.

Gender

Which gender commits more crime?

Collection of data and interviews in DSWD, BCPO, and City Hall/ City Counselor

Through this research, it may help decrease the number of gang cases.

Family Background

What is the condition of the minor’s family?

Finalize the collected data.

Educational Status

Does suspects of Gang related violence graduated from pre or secondary school?

Give the results and discussions

Social Class

Is the minor experiencing suffering in terms of needs?

Scope and Definition of the Study:

The case study was conducted to determine why most youth join gangs and commit crimes. The researchers conducted this case study in conformance through collection of data in different local departments and offices such as BCPO, DSWD, and City Hall. The researchers started to collect data and interviews in the month of April 2018 as the basis for the needed information of the case study.

Definition of Terms:

In order to have a common understanding and reference, there are some terms that are used in this case study that are defined.

· Age- the amount of time during which a person has lived.

· Awareness- knowing that something exists ( such as condition or problem)

· Background- a position that attracts little attention.

· Crimes- an illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government.

· Desire- to want or wish for something.

· Education- the action or process of teaching someone especially in a school, college, or university.

· Educational Status- what level of education has a person attained or finished.

· Family- a group of people who are related to each other.

· Family Background- the state of a person’s life where he or she came from.

· Gang- a group of young people who do illegal things together and often fight against other gangs.

· Gender- the state of being male or female

· Rebel- refusal to obey rules or accept normal standards of behavior

· Social Class- the level of an individual or family according to hierarchy.

· Society- people of a particular country, area, time, etc. thought of especially an organized community

· Status- the position or rank of someone or something which confirmed to others in a society, organization, group, etc.

· Violence- the use of physical force to harm someone , to damage property, etc.

Significance of the Study:

To Minors: to inform them about the bad effects of joining gangs. For them to understand well that if they join gangs, their life may be in danger because gangs usually do things that they want. Gangs have conflicts with other groups that may lead for them to fight other groups. Minors and teenagers will be informed that gangs have bad effects to the society.

To Schools: the research may help to inform or to give ideas on how that will prevent their students to join any harmful groups like gangs and fraternities. The information brought by this research may inform the school officials and to conduct some actions. It will also prevent drop-out students in a particular school.

To the Citizens: citizens will have less worries walking out on the streets day or night because there will be lesser youth gang that may commit violence.

To the Authorities: the research may help authorities to implement laws on how to lessen crimes caused by gangs. Authorities will know the places where gangs do crimes and they will know where to focus on patrolling. Authorities will have less problem dealing with minors committing crimes.

To the Researchers: the researchers will gain more knowledge, information, and awareness in the case study.

Chapter II

Related Literatures :

Social disorganization theory concentrates on the circumstances in the inner city that affect crimes. These circumstances include the deterioration of the neighborhoods, the lack of social control, gangs and other groups who violate the law, and the opposing social values within these neighborhood (Siegel,2010). The fact that youth in this lower class are raised in such dilapidated neighborhoods is a primary reason that they choose to participate in violence and become associated with gangs. These people have no pride in where they live and do not feel a need to become involved in activities to preserve the well being of neighborhood (DJJDP BULLETIN, 2003). To compensate, they take their spare time and invest it into participating in gang activities.

There are several theories for this case study wherein these theories will define and give foundation to the study. One is Strain Theory, this theory states that crime is brought on by the overwhelming strain that people feel when they have the personal aspirations but no way to reach them. Strain theorists believe that wealth and power are allocated disproportionately between economic classes and the frustration of not having or not being to achieve goals and the strain of not having opportunities are what influence a person’s choice to commit crime (Featherstone and Deflem, 2003). It explains that the youth feel that the only chance to obtain the things they desire is to join gangs. Another factor is that they see gang members in the community with money from things such as drug sales and feel that joining the gang will benefit them the same way.

The youth is easily influenced by its environment and how people live or lifestyle in their surroundings. They believe that criminal behavior is the result of the strain people feel and the social isolation is that urban environments put them under (Siegel,2010). People mostly teenagers join gangs and commit crime because of the pressure of the environment especially on the urban side. Social status is another reason why youth commit crimes such as robbery and theft, its because of not having what they need.

Consistent with expectation, drug and gang homicides display substantial concentrations of violent incidents spatially and temporally within different neighborhoods in a city. The authors also find evidence for localized temporal dependencies in which a recent homicide alters the probability of another homicide in the same local area. There is evidence of cross-type diffusion from drug and gang homicides to subsequently higher rates of other gun homicides involving young offenders and victims.

“Both drug and gang homicides display evidence of self-limiting suppression effects that inhibit extended periods of sustained high rates of these types of violence.”

Gang related violence involving minors increases and sustained high rates. There are still proves and evidences showing the violence involving gangs.

A Literature review on Gang violence

Kittle J’

Gangs and gang violence are concerning cause of preventable injuries and death in the trauma community. The number of gangs and gang members has been on an upward trend since 2003 with an estimated 30,000 gangs in the United States. This includes approximately 850,000 gang members. Trauma centers are in a unique position to participate in the prevention of gang violence.

Confronting Youth Gangs in the intensive Care Unit

There are more than 25,200 gangs in the United States, with a total gang membership of 850,000. Ninety four percent of gang members are male and six percent are female. The ethnic composition nationwide.

Chapter III

Research Design and Methodology:

The chapter includes discussion of the research design, locale and population, data gathering procedure, data gathering tool, validity and reliability of the research instrument and the statistical treatment to be used in the study.

Research Design:

In the study, descriptive case study method was utilized. Descriptive case study method answers who, what, where, and how questions related to a particular research problem. The method is used to in-depth examination of an individual, groups of people, or an institution. Some of its purposes are to gain insights into a little-known problem, provide background data for broader studies, and explain socio-psychological and socio-cultural processes. A case study also involves a comprehensive and extensive examination of a particular individual, group or situation over a period of time. It provides information on where to draw conclusions about the impact of a significant event in a person’s life (Sanchez, 2002). Thus, descriptive case study method was applied in this study for it aims to publish a research that will give concrete information to officials and citizens of Baguio City regarding gang related violence involving minors.

Locale and Population of the Study:

The respondents of the case study are the different officials in locale sectors in Baguio City. Initial sampling was use where there are three local sectors namely BCPO, DSWD, and City Hall. Researchers also included concerned citizens and victims. The researchers randomly selected 3 individuals in each local sectors and concerned citizens or victims. Therefore, there will be 12 respondents who will be the subject for the case study. The Table of Respondents is shown in Table 1.1

Table of Respondents

Table 1.1

For Interview

Total Key

City Hall/City Counselor

3

BCPO (Baguio City Police Office)

3

DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development)

3

Others (victims, concerned citizens)

3

Data Gathering Tool:

In gathering the data needed in the case study, a questionnaire was main tool used. A questionnaire is a form prepared and distributed to secure responses to a certain topics.

The first part of the questionnaire was a letter to the respondents followed by queries on the following topics: (1) Status of gang related violence, (2) Causes of gang violence, (3)Programs implemented by the agency. The sample interview guide is shown below.

Case Study of Gang related violence involving minors in Baguio City QUESTIONNAIRE

Good morning /Good afternoon Sir/Madam, we are Senior High School students from Baguio Central University and we are conducting a research about gang related violence involving minors in the City. We are kindly asking for interview regarding the said study.

1. Ano po ang estado ng gang related violence involving minors sa ating siyudad ng mga taong 2015-2018?

a. Tumaas po ba ito o ito’y bumaba?

b. Maaari niyo po bang ilarawan sa amin ang ibig sabihin ng data (kung merong ibibigay na data) ?

2. Ano po ang sanhi ng mga gang related violence involving minors?

a. Ano-ano po ang mga naireport na kaso ng gang related violence sa inyong departmento?

b. Ano po ang sanhi ng kasong iyon?

c. Lahat po ba ng gang related violence ay nairereport ? kung hindi, bakit?

3. Ano-ano po ang mga programang ginagawa ng inyong ahensiya upang makatulong na makaiwas/mabawasan ang gang related violence involving minors?

a. Paano po ito isinasagawa ?

Chapter IV

Results and Discussion

This chapter contains the data collected by the researchers which shows the statistics of children in conflict with law and the different types of nature of case or offense.

FREQUENCY TABLE

1. Crimes committed by the Children in Conflict with the Law in Baguio City

from 2013-2017.

Table 1.2

Types of Crime Committed

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

A. Index Crimes:

 

 

 

 

 

Crimes Against Person

99

39

57

68

70

Crimes Against Property

253

287

216

190

107

Crimes Against Chastity

6

4

1

1

2

Others (Personal liberty and security)

21

9

10

9

2

B. Non-Index Crimes

40

55

38

44

34

TOTAL

419

394

322

312

215

* The data above shows the status of crimes committed by a minor from years 2013 to 2017 that interprets what crime has higher cases. Crimes Against Property has the higher number of cases wherein it includes robbery, theft, malicious mischief.

2. The Profile of Children in Conflict with the Law

Table 1.3

a. Age

2017

 

 

 

 

10 years old and below

2

 

 

 

 

Above less but less than 15

61

 

 

 

 

* Number of cases according to age

Table 1.4

b. Sex

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Male

352

 

242

251

202

Female

67

 

80

61

13

TOTAL

419

394

321

312

215

* Number of cases according to sex

Table 1.5

Nature of Case / Offense

Type of Felony/ Crime Committed

Crime Against Person

-Homicide / Murder

-Physical Injury

-Reckless Imprudence

-Rape

Crime Against Property

-Robbery

-Theft

-Swindling/Estafa

-Malicious Mischief

Crime Against Personal Liberty and Security

-Threats and Coercion

-Trespass to Dwelling

Crime Against Chastity

Acts of Lasciviousness

Others (Violation of National Laws)

-Violation of RA 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act)

-Violation of RA 9995 (Anti Voyeurism)

-Violation of RA 6539 (Anti Carnapping)

-Violation of RA 9208 (Anti Bullying)

-Violation of 9262 (Anti-VAWC)

-Violation of RA 7610 (Anti Child Abuse)

Figures for the Tables

Figure 2, For Table 1.2

Figure 3, For Table 1.3

Figure 4, For Table 1.4

The data given which is Children in Conflict with the Law was collected at DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) given by Ms. Dolores S. Busacay, Social Welfare Officer 1 who is in 4 years in service. In Table1.2, shows the number of cases from years 2013 to 2017 and the guide explanation for Table 1.2 is shown in Table 1.5 which specifies the crimes indicated in Table 1.2. Under Table 1.5, Crime Against Person, Crime Against Property, Crime Against Personal Liberty and Security, and Crime Against Chastity is what we call the Index Crimes while for Violation of National Laws are for Non-Index Crimes as explained to us by Ms. Busacay. The number of cases for Table1.2 is decreasing but for crimes against property is still high in number of cases although decreasing. According to Ms. Busacay, crimes against property is much feared in Baguio because minors are prone to doing this kind of crime. As shown in Table 1.5, the types of felony under crimes against property are robbery, theft, swindling/ estafa, and malicious mischief wherein this can be done by minors. The second crime that still has high number of cases is crime against person wherein physical injuries is usually reported in this kind of crime. As for Non-Index Crimes, Violation of RA 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act) is a case that has a high number under non-index crimes. As explained by Ms. Busacay, City High has one of the most cases of drugs being collected in schools of Baguio City. Authorities and Faculty of City High conduct a search in students wherein they find marijuanas hidden in different things of students in City High such as ballpens. For Table 1.3, ages 10 to15 has higher number of cases compared to other ages, as for 2017 there are 61 cases for ages 10 to 15. For this level of ages, minors are easily influenced by what they see in the environment and they are also easily depressed that leads them to commit crimes. Male has higher number of cases than the females shown in Table 1.4.

Additional information that supports the discussion is an information collected from City Counselor Francisco Roberto A. Ortega VI wherein he also stated that at the 1st Quarter of violence involving minors has increased but for 2nd quarter, it has decreased. The violence usually being committed are physical injuries, theft, and robbery that has also been interpreted in Table 1.2. As said by City Counselor Ortega VI, not all cases are being reported and filed because the complainant might have trauma while some cases are being filed. The researchers has also interviewed SPO3 Elviia Caslonan 5 months in service, wherein he stated that below 15 years old are being reported to different barangays, cases are being filed and the suspects of the crimes committed is a group that is said to be a gang related violence and the crimes committed are physical injuries, mostly a fist fight.

There is also a victim that has been interviewed namely, Kenneth Tinoy-an. The friends of Kenneth attacked a group of gang because of extortion “kikil” of the gang to their friend that happened year 2013 and he was at the age of 15. A suspect was also interviewed namely Kevin Craig Meakins, he was not a gang member but he and his friend attacked a group of gang because of mischievousness against the gangs. It happened on year 2014 when he was 14 years old. It is clearly stating that ages 10 to 15 are really prone to doing crimes such as crimes against person and property.

According to Ms. Busacay, there is no specific data for gang violence. Local Sectors don’t make a data specifying the names of the gang but they record a case for each individual of the gang or group. Upon the data given, there are 70% of cases that are gang related and 30% for non-gang related. A minor cannot do crimes alone there is always an accompaniment and influence of someone, although some can do it alone but only a few. Crimes being committed involving minors is mostly gang or group related violence.

The programs implemented by Local Sectors in order to prevent and lessen gang related violence involving minors was collected by the researchers.

The Programs implemented by Department of Social Welfare and Development are Community Based Services and Institution Based Services.

A. Community Based Services

· This refers to activities designed to improve the social functioning of Children in Need of Special Protection (CNSP) within the community level.

How is the service extended to the youth?

1. Personality and Leadership Development

· The intervention consists of activities undertaken by the youth through a group from where members derive positive experiences that will promote the development of strong personality and leadership capabilities geared towards individual, group and community development.

2. Volunteer Skills Development

· The intervention refers to the provision of livelihood opportunities which aim to help the youth attain economic upliftment through engaging in income generating projects, practical skills training, and vocational job counseling.

3. Volunteer Resource Development for youth

· For the youth to utilize their time, skills, efforts and/or material goods for the service of the community

4. Economic Productivity

B. Institution Based Services

a. Silungan Center

· Is a facility where a client could avail of shelter for the time being while he/she is in crisis situation.

The Silungan Center provides the following services to its clientele beneficiaries:

1. Temporary Shelter

· The client’s length of stay at the center will be determined by the social worker considering the present crisis situation of the client and security/protection.

2. Counseling

· It strives to enhance the client’s ability to cope and function adequately in his/her life.

3. Mediation/diversion

Diversion Program-filed

Intervention Program-unfiled

· Social worker mediates on behalf of the youth/child from the time of apprehension so that the youth/child will not have to go through the other pillars of justice.

4. Practical Skills Development

· Clients are provided with short term skills training good for one or two days which he/she could use for livelihood after his/her discharge from the center.

b. Social Development Center

· To provide a family model for residential care that reintegrates the children to the biological family and the community.

1. Residential Care

a. Homelife Service

b. Nutrition and Health Services

2. Educational Assistance

a. Monitoring-case

b. Educational-Financial Assistance

3. Basic Life Skills Development

4. Livelihood Development

5. Psychological Recovery

6. Special Social Services

*For the Baguio City Police Office, they conduct lectures to barangays and schools.

Chapter V

Conclusion and Recommendations

This chapter presents the conclusion drawn and the recommendation forwarded.

Conclusions:

According to the results of the study, the following are the conclusions generated.

1. The objectives of gang related violence involving minors in Baguio City were achieved.

2. The statement of the problem was answered through the data gathered.

a. What is the general status of gang related violence involving minors in Baguio City for the year 2015-2018?

· According to the data, violence involving minors decreased from years 2013 to 2017.

b. What are the violence or crime usually committed by a minor?

· The crimes usually committed by a minor are crime against property and person.

c. What are the intervention programs of the agency in order to help resolve this kind of issue?

· Local sectors such as, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Baguio City Police Office implement intervention programs for youth wherein they motivate and inspire the youth that will prevent them from boredom that may lead them to join gangs and commit crimes.

Recommendations:

Since this study is a qualitative research, it is highly recommended that the researchers should manage their time well in order to gather data. This kind of study must have concrete data and proofs so that the information would be reliable.

References

*Criminologyjust.nlogspot.com/2011/06/social-theories-explaining-gang.html?m=1

*Cohen, Jacgueline, Daniel Cork, John Engberg, and George Tita.1998.”The role of drug markets and gangs in local homicide rates.”Homicide Studies 2:241-262

*J Trauma Nurs.2017 Jul/Aug:24(4):270-279. A Literature Review on Gang *Violence.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28692626

*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25463004

Appendix A Baguio Central University

Senior High School Department

PERMISSION TO CONDUCT AND COLLECT RESEARCH DATA

March 26, 2018

Dear Sir/ Ma’m:

The purpose of this letter is to request your good office that we are conducting the research entitled: Case Study of Gang related Violence involving minors in Baguio City. For this we are requesting that your good office allow us to also serves as assurance that we comply with requirements of the Republic Act 10173 also known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and will ensure that these requirements are followed in the conduct of this research. Thank you very much and more power.

Sincerely,

Name of Members:Signature

Agbuya, Jester Y.____________________

Caluza, Alfredo C.____________________

Say-eo Bernard Jr. F.____________________

Buenafe, Jellie-Ann P.____________________

Mandi, Iana Gwen D.____________________

Melchor, Michelle C.____________________

Research TeacherApproved:

Jeff C. Feliciano____________________

Approving Office

Appendix B Interview Questionnaire

Case Study of Gang related violence involving minors in Baguio City QUESTIONNAIRE

Goodmorning/Goodafternoon Sir/Madam, we are Senior High School students from Baguio Central University and we are conducting a research about gang related violence involving minors in the City. We are kindly asking for interview regarding the said study.

1. Ano po ang estado ng gang related violence involving minors sa ating siyudad ng mga taong 2015-2018?

a. Tumaas po ba ito o ito’y bumaba?

b. Maaari niyo po bang ilarawan sa amin ang ibig sabihin ng data (kung merong ibibigay na data) ?

2. Ano po ang sanhi ng mga gang related violence involving minors?

a. Ano-ano po ang mga naireport na kaso ng gang related violence sa inyong departmento?

b. Ano po ang sanhi ng kasong iyon?

c. Lahat po ba ng gang related violence ay nairereport ? kung hindi, bakit?

3. Ano-ano po ang mga programang ginagawa ng inyong ahensiya upang makatulong na makaiwas/mabawasan ang gang related violence involving minors?

a. Paano po ito isinasagawa ?