In the Philippines, a person considered as a child until he or she reaches the age of majority which is 18.

Under a law called the Special Protection act, persons who are unable to care for themselves or to protect themselves from abuse or exploitation because of physical or mental disability are still considered children after they reach the age of 18. But what if those children or youth which we consider as the hope of the future are the one who commits a crime or is in conflict with the

Can we consider them as criminals or victims of circumstances beyond their control? What are the factors to concern about doing such things? Do these children in conflict with the law has a chance to resolve? How do the people in the society view this kind of issue which is a serious social problem of the Philippines? These are some complicated question that the researchers try to riposte as we go on to these study about children in conflict with the law, or CICL.

Children in conflict with the law or CICL Are those who are below 18 years old who committed an offense whose case is filled in court with the prosecutor or the police.

They are considered victims of circumstances beyond their control and should, therefore, be treated as individuals with problems who need help and need to be provided with appropriate assistance and services to ensure the full protection of their rights for survival, protection, development and participation.

Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act is the first the law that protects the right of the children in conflict with the law. This provides them the opportunity and chance, thru alternative child friendly measures, to reform and be reintegrated into their family and community as a productive member of the society.

As the agency mandated to promote the rights and welfare of children, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) implement programs and services to promote the best interest of CICL. This are carried out in community based setting coordination of the five pillars of juvenile justice system, namely the law enforcement prosecution, judiciary court, correctional, and the community.

1. Economic security The U.S funding support for the PDR (Philippine Defense Reform) began in fy 2005 and requirements are projected to continue through fy 2008. Social security Exchange rate : U.S $ 1.00 = P 52.00

2. Social insurance system( type of program) Source fund: Old Age Benefits Pension: Monthly pension is equal to P300, plus 20% of the insured average monthly covered earnings, plus 2% of the insured average monthly covered earnings for each year of service exceeding 10 years or 20% of the insured average monthly covered earnings which ever is greater.

 Permanent Disability Benefits Pension: Monthly pension is equal to P300, plus 20% of the insured average monthly covered earnings, plus 2% of the insured average monthly covered earnings for each year of service exceeding 10 years or 40 years of the insured average monthly covered earnings which ever is greater.

Survivor Benefits Pension: The pension to 100% of the monthly old- age pension that would have been payable to decreased.
Sickness Benefits- daily allowance is equal to 90% of the insured average daily covered benefits Maternity Benefits- equal to 100% of the insured average daily covered earnings.

3.Strained Relationship among members of the family Offenders are known to the victim and the abuse takes place with in the territory of the offenders.

4. Peer pressure 5. Mass media Greatly influences once own thinking especially to the youth ( e.g. child pornography, violent movies, scandals, etc.)

1.A

12 years old boy electrocutes father (Dumaguete city) Unable to carry on any more physical abuse a 12 years old boy killed his own father by electrocution. He said he could no longer stand the beating he receive at his fathers hand and was frightened by death threats against him self, his mother and his sisters.

On the occasion when the boys mother brought a radio, the father immediately destroyed it. The boy kept the electric wire of this radio and later he used it to kill his father. Asked whether he regretted what he had done, he merely mumbled wala though he recalled he felt numb with fear when his father leaved a last gap before he died. ( Philippine Daily Inquirer, 14 April 1999)

2. Girls text mate accused of rape State of prosecutor Ma. Cristina G. Juanson found probable cause that warranted the filling of 3 separate information for rape against John Eddie Boy Columbus, of Baseco compound in port area, manila. The case steam from the alleged sexual attack on the 14 years old girl on July 27, 2006.

In her complaint, the girl claimed that Columbus , who was then her text mate, invited her to visit his house where she was convinced to join a drinking session. The girl got drunk and spent the night in Columbus house. When she woke up the following morning, she found out that her panty had a traces of blood. She claimed that the accused locked her inside the house and raped her again twice. Columbus only allowed her to go home after learning that her mother had reported the victim missing

The main concern of this study is to determine the causes why some youth is involve in Children in conflict with the law as well as the effects to the society. Is the capacity of parental guidance in the Philippines contribute to the increasing of juvenile crimes,

1. How severe is the CICL in the country? 2. How do the government and the private sectors treat the children in conflict with the law? 3. What are the people s view regarding this issue?

To become aware of the children in conflict with the law here in the Philippines To become the people s view and concern about this issue
To elaborate the causes of CICL for the better understanding of the people especially the students, professors, and Government

T o promote recommendation and plan of action To call the attention of the government, private sectors and ordinary masses to make an action regarding the CICL

To exercise critical thinking of the issues, this involves the youth.

The researcher (s) pursue to find out and analyze the real causes and effects of the CICL in the country. The study will be able to suggest recommendation and plan of action to resolve the CICL.

The study used questionnaires to guide the respondents to the flow of the interview. The respondents that have chosen in the study are the juvenile delinquents, students, keyrespondents. It will took 3 weeks to gather indispensable information and data for the betterment of the study.

This study used the unstructured or indirect interviewing type of research. It is a procedure in which neither the questions nor the answers pre determined instead, the researcher let the interviewee guide the flow of the interview. Here the researcher does not seek answers to the specific questions but to explore a broad of subtitle aspect of social life.

Through the unstructured interviewing the researchers could determined the answers to the problems regarding the children in conflict with the law, also, the point of view regarding the CICL in the Philippines.

The psychological exchange theory which view human interaction as essentially an exchange rewards and punishment( George Homans- 1940). The children commit crimes because they gat pleasure through it even for sometimes but having disregarded the punishment or sanction that they might go thru like drug dependency, specifically sniffers of rugby, they do this to satisfy their changes.

This is the pleasure that they get from doing it without knowing the side effect of using rugby like wise, not all children involve in CICL are from poor family, some of them is from a prominent one. They are involving themselves in fraternity and gangs to seek attention from their parents and peers. Even though they new that their peers can influence their thinking. Nowadays most of youth spent a lot of time with their peers that can manipulate them to do such criminal things.

Children in armed conflict The law in the protection of children doped in 1992 contain a long article on the protection of children during the armed conflict. It declared that children are to be considered Zone of peace, which means that they should not be used for military purposes or attacked.

A children should be given all necessary protection and assistance when their lives are affected by fighting or military operations. The armed forces should not interfere with the delivery of health care, relief or other basic services in militarize areas and may not take over schools for the storage of supplies or for housing soldiers.

The commission on human rights has set up program for training soldier to respect the right of children. It also investigates a cases of the children who are killed or injured in military operations and can give financial aid to injured children who need medical care or children whose parent has been killed in military operations.

The department of social welfare and development and local government units are responsible for the care of families forced to leave their homes because of military operations. The center for the rehabilitation of children, an NGO, has pioneered in the case of children suffering from trauma as a result of their experiences during armed conflict.

CHILDREN IN SITUATIONS OF ARMED CONFLICT

Age group Total number Less than 1 6,422 year 1-4 years 20, 575 5-9 years 29, 748 10- 14 years 25, 615 15- 18 years 14, 534

Percentage 3.7%
11.8% 17.16% 26.4% 8.38%

The armed forces of the Philippines estimates the number of children involved in armed conflict in 13 % at the total rebel population. Most of these children come from indigenous peoples communities. They either become child soldiers, spies, couriers, guide or informer. (Child 21: A legacy to the Filipino Children of the 21st century)

Thousands of children used in conflict throughout Asia There are more than 75, 000 children fighting wars in Asia. Though the national legislation of the Philippines set the minimum age recruitment at 18, Filipino continue to perform many function in conflict situations, ranging from fighting on the front- lines to serving sex slaves to senior officer for some of the girls.

While some children are attracted by the power and the prestige of the military, many others are forced to join. Orphans and street children are especially vulnerable to being kidnapped or coerce to join. In the southern Philippines, children have been recruited by armed group such as the moro Islamic liberation front, the Cordillera peoples liberation army and the Abu sayaf group. Though the new people army has used child soldier so many years, in February 2000 it committed it self publicity to ending the recruitment of children below the age of 18.

The coalition to stop the used of child soldiers (CSUCS) states that the united states , united kingdom, Australia and New Zealand all recruit under 18- the UK routinely sends 17 years old into combat. In September 2000, the Philippines also became a signatory to the Un optional protocol on the involvement of children in conflict. Earth times News service, 18 February, 201 (Michael A. Bengwayan)

Drug abuse

The dangerous drugs act of 1972 is the main law restricting the use and distribution of narcotics and psychotropic drug. A new law which requires that information on drug abuse be taught in schools and in alternative education programs was adopted in 1992. the special protection act 1994 increase the penalty for the use of children in drug pushing or flicking to life imprisonment.

Social measures have also been adopted including community- based awareness campaigns and nationwide Citizen drug watch which encourage the public to report drug pushing and drug abuse the authorities. Rehabilitation facilities for drug users included 20 none residential centers and 10 residential centers run by the government and 17 private residential centers. Children may be admitted at their own request, or may be committed by a parent or relative.

A 1991 study of young people aged 13 to 21 who were not enrolled in the school indicated that 16% has used illegal drugs on occasion. The most commonly used drug other than rugby are marijuana, shabu. Forty percent of those who used drugs also admitted to participation in theft, prostitution or other crimes.

Perspective tools The researchers use critical thinking method in analyzing the problem.
Through this, the main problem of this study will be able to define; know the causes of CICL, to think of possible solution in this issue; and the impact of the said solutions to the people.

Children in conflict with the law are those who are 9 years old above and below 18 years old who committed an offense or crime like drug abuse, rape, holdup and other juvenile crimes.

The factors to be considered as the cause of CICL are: Religion Lack of parental guidance Peer pressure Mass media

Mistaken self-concept Hunger (poverty) Curiosity Primordial rebellion Over population Temptation Social force

The effects of CICL to the society and to those who committed it. Loosing self-esteem Broken relationship within their family
They take education for granted Lost of time for their family and her/him self

Rapidly increase of crime

The suggested possible solution to resolve the CICL: There must be a return to domestic values Raise the standard of living among the poor Organize a poster making contest that will be joined by the youth

Organize a sport fest in Barangays Arrange a seminar regarding to responsible parenting Improving the law regarding CICL Improve the quality of education and vocational training

Positive

Decrease juvenile delinquency rate The parents will become responsible of nurturing their child Children will involved themselves in different activities Open relation between children and parents

Negative The people may not participate in seminars because of the hectic schedule They take it for granted The awareness of people will last for sometimes without the continuous reminders

Concert in titled tugtog kabataan para sa astig na kinabukasan that will participated by youth especially those children who involved in CICL Organize youth gathering that will lead by the parish youth ministry Out reach program in the rehabilitation center

Children in conflict with the law are those who are 18 years old below who commits crime and whose case is filed up in court by a prosecutor or police. CICL is the major social problem of our government.

The factors to be considered as the cause of CICL are the Religion, Lack of parental guidance, Peer pressure, Mass media, mistaken self-concept, Hunger (poverty), Curiosity, Primordial rebellion, over population, Temptation and Social force. Children in conflict with the law can cause a rapidly increase of crime, Loosing selfesteem, Broken relationship within their family, they take education for granted and Lost of time for their family and her/him self.

CICL is possible to resolve if there is a return to domestic values, Improving the law regarding CICL, Improve the quality of education and vocational training, raise the standard of living among the poor, also if there are different activities in each barangay like a poster making contest that will be joined by the youth, sport fest, a seminar regarding to responsible parenting.

Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act is the first the law that protects the right of the children in conflict with the law. This provides them the opportunity and chance, thru alternative child friendly measures, to reform and be reintegrated into their family and community as a productive member of the society.

This study is recommended to the youth engage in CICL The suggested plan of action is recommended to the government and private sectors in helping CICL

This study is recommended to the future sociology students and researchers. The information, data and analysis are recommended for the awareness of the people regarding this issue

Conduct a seminar about responsible parenting in urban poor communities with the help of their barangay officials

Organize a concert in titled tugtog kabataan para sa astig na kinabukasan that will participated by youth especially those children who involved in CICL

Organize a youth gathering with the theme Children in the hands of God Conduct an outreach program in the rehabilitation centers

Www. DSWD. Com Tempo news paper Abante Tonite Philippine daily inquirer

Child 21: A legacy to the Filipino Children of the 21st century Earth times News service, 18 February, 201 (Michael A. Bengwayan) A child is human to ; Daniel o Donelle Sociology, culture and Family Planning; Wilfredo San Juan