CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW, ENHANCED POLICE RESPONSE, JUVENILE DELINQUENTS 

Handling children in conflict with the law is one delicate area of police
administration and crime management. This challenge did not deter the conduct of this
study in Zamboanga del Norte
This study assessed the effectiveness of Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial
Office in handling children in conflict with the law in Zamboanga del Norte in terms of
competence of the PNP personnel, handling procedures, other agencies support and
community-based programs. It also assessed the problems encountered that affect the
effectiveness of Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office in handling children in
conflict with the law in Zamboanga del Norte and the measures can be proposed to

address the problems. It also asked whether there was a significant difference among
the assessments of the respondents on the effectiveness of Zamboanga del Norte
Provincial Office in handling CICL, the problems encountered and the corresponding
measures to the problems encountered. An Enhanced Police Response to Juvenile
Delinquents’ Plan was also formulated from the results of the study.
The study was limited to assessing the effectiveness of the Zamboanga del Norte
PPO in handling children in conflict with the law in the Province of Zamboanga del
Norte, due to the observed incidence of mishandling of juvenile delinquents.
The study tackled the assessment of the effectiveness in handling children in
conflict with the law in Zamboanga del Norte to be able to establish appropriate
approaches to children and the formulation of Public Safety Development Plan
particularly on the competence of PNP personnel, Handling procedures, Other Agencies
support and Community based programs.
Likewise it also included problems encountered and the measure to address its
problem. Furthermore, it determined the significance difference among the assessments
of the three groups of respondents in the handling of CICL of the police officers of
Zamboanga del Norte PPO.
The respondents considered in the study were the three groups such as PNP
personnel, other government agencies and the community. The study covered calendar
year 2011.
The grand mean of 4.03 showed that the handling of CICL by Zamboanga del
Norte PPO was effective. The main reason why Zamboanga del Norte PPO was
effective was the competence of the personnel with an average overall mean of 4.11.
The effectiveness of the human factor made the biggest impact in handling children in
conflict with the law in Zamboanga del Norte.
The problems encountered were rated only as moderately serious with a grand
mean of 3.26. Among the variables, the most problematic and ties at 3.34 were the
handling procedures and community-based programs.
The respondents assessed the proposed measures to the problems encountered
that affect the effectiveness of Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office in handling
children in conflict with the law as highly recommended with a grand mean of 4.47.
There was a significant difference among the assessment of the respondents on
the effectiveness of and the problems encountered that affect the Zamboanga del Norte
PPO in handling children in conflict with the law, in terms of competence of personnel,
handling procedures, other government agencies support and community-based
programs.
There was no significant among the assessments of the respondents on the
proposed measures to the problems encountered that affect the effectiveness of
Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Office in handling children in conflict with the law, in
terms of competence of personnel, handling procedures, other government agencies
support and community-based programs.
The following were the conclusions of the study. The respondents from the
Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office, the members of the other government
agencies, and members of the community deem the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial
Office as effective in advising the children of their constitutional rights, avoiding violence
or unnecessary force and ensuring that all statements signed by the child during

investigation are witnessed by the child’s parents or guardian, social worker, or legal
counsel in attendance; recognizing the existence of other concerned Government
Agencies support for possible referral and assistance needed by CICL; and making
known to the sectors of the society of the diversion programs available for the CICL
through posters and radio programs, and promoting social justice and equal opportunity,
which tackles perceived root causes of offending by police involvement in livelihood
programs geared towards poor families. Moderately serious problems are encountered
by the Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office with regards to them not being
briefed on properly identifying himself/herself and present ID to the child, are not
oriented on restrain necessary in accosting CICL and being bot well-versed of the
different methods of control; failing to institute a three-year period in LGUs from the
barangay to the provincial level a comprehensive juvenile intervention program, and
never coordinating with LGUs if they are setting aside an amount necessary to
implement their respective juvenile intervention programs in their annual budget; and
not making known to the sectors of the society of the diversion programs available for
the CICL. The effectiveness of handling children in conflict with the law by the
Zamboanga del Norte PPO can be enhanced by training if police personnel for the
conduct of investigation, information gathering information and testimonies from CICL,
preparation in training program that is oriented towards restrain necessary in accosting
CICL; proper coordination with concerned sectors particularly the child-focused
institutions, NGOs, people’s organizations, educational institutions and government
agencies involved in delinquency prevention; and gathering of all community support
available in promulgating programs for the CICL. The respondents from the Zamboanga
del Norte Police Provincial Office, the members of the other government agencies, and
members of the community deem the Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office
have different perspectives on the effectiveness of Zamboanga del Norte in handling
CICL, and on the problems encountered that affect their effectiveness. However, they
have similar views on the proposed measures to address the problems encountered
that affect the handling of CICL by the Zamboanga del Norte PPO. The proactive
policing plan on improved handling of children in conflict with the law in Zamboanga del
Norte is composed of Training Program on Police Investigation of CICL, Publication of
Manual Towards Restrain in Accosting CICL, Multi-Sectoral Coordination in Juvenile
Delinquency Prevention, Participation in Promulgating of Community Programs for the
CICL.
Based on the conclusions of the study, the following were the recommendations.
The Zamboanga del Norte PPO must outline a training program to educate all its
officers and personnel on the proper way of handling CICL. The Zamboanga del Norte
PPO must also publish general guidelines on the proper way of accosting CICL. In its
general planning, the Zamboanga del Norte PPO must include the coordination with
other government agencies as a strategic plan in handling CICL. The Zamboanga del
Norte PPO leadership must link with community leaders to facilitate community-based
program for the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents. A long-term strategic planning
must be formulated by Zamboanga del Norte PPO on how to curb the criminality level
being committed by the children in Zamboanga del Norte.