Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Background of the study
Gang war among Street children have become one of the nation’s fastest growing
problems within recent history. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation about
33,000 violent street gangs, motorcycle gangs, and prison gangs with about 2.4 million
members are criminally active in the U.S. today.
Defining a gang is difficult they tend to fall into three categories: peer groups, street
gangs and organized crime groups. It can be common for groups of children and young
people to gather together in public places to socialize, and although some peer group
gatherings can lead to increased antisocial behavior and low level youth offending, these
activities should not be confused with the serious violence of a street gang.
A street gang can be described as a relatively durable, predominantly street-based
group of children who see themselves as a discernible group for whom crime and violence
is integral to the group's identity. It will engage in criminal activity and violence.
A gang is a group of good friends or family with identifiable leadership and internal
organization, identifying with or claiming control over territory in a community, and
engaging either individually or collectively in violent or illegal behavior. Some criminal
gang members are "jumped in" or have to prove their loyalty by committing acts such as
theft or violence. A member of a gang may be called a gangster or a thug.
Street children and vagrant minors are increasingly involved in crime and gang
wars in the Philippines´ "most child-friendly city," according to a local police officer. Police
inspector Royina Garma-Vilela said violent incidents among street gangs have increased
"alarmingly" in the past two years despite several laws and a curfew aimed at protecting
minors.
In 1998 Butuan´s anti-narcotics police unit started keeping watch on street children
reportedly hooked on drugs and forming gangs. Josan Ramos, 16, co-founder of Tropang
Baug (troop of infertile persons), told UCA News, "We don´t really look for trouble, we
only want company", "We have no other option but to join a gang so that we will not be
harmed," said Emalyn Castro, 14, who wanted to join Tropang Baug.
The Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) has launched a citywide crackdown on
gangs composed mainly of minors which has become a perennial problem and threat to
the peace and order in the city. Sr. Supt. Percival Augustus Placer, Butuan police
director, said the past few months saw youth gangs committed serious crimes ranging
from robbery, extortion, inflicting physical injury on another person, riot and theft.
According to Placer, the alarming proliferation of Butuan-based youth crime gangs could
be attributed to several factors: culture of gangsterism in schools, parental neglect and
other domestic factors.
The city police director ordered to intensify the profiling and monitoring of activities
of youth and street criminal gangs, and police visibility in areas where gang wars occur.
And also sought the assistance of the city social welfare office, local council, the
department of education, and barangay councils to address the problem of youth
gangsterism.
Review of the Related Literature
Various readings from different dissertations, theses in the internet of different
authors which have a bearing to the present study are presented in this section.
Safeguarding Children and Young People who may be affected by Gang Activity
(2010) stated that the risk or potential risk of harm to the child may be as a victim, a gang
member or both - in relation to their peers or to a gang-involved adult in their household.
Teenagers can be particularly vulnerable to recruitment into gangs and involvement in
gang violence. This vulnerability may be exacerbated by risk factors in an individual's
background, including violence in the family, involvement of siblings in gangs, poor
educational attainment, or poverty or mental health problems. A child who is affected by
gang activity, criminal exploitation or serious youth violence can be at risk of significant
harm through physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Girls may be particularly at risk of
sexual exploitation.
Violence is a way for gang members to gain recognition and respect by asserting
their power and authority in the street, with a large proportion of street crime perpetrated
against members of other gangs or the relatives of gang members.
Discussion and consideration of the need for immediate safeguarding action,
unless to do so would place the child at greater risk. Information and local knowledge
about the specific gang should be shared, including the use, or suspected use, of
weapons or drug dealing. There should also be consideration of possible risk to members
of the child's family and other children in the community.
Unless there are indications that parental involvement would risk further harm to the child,
parents should be involved as early as possible where there are concerns about gang
activity.
Gang injunctions offer local partners a way to intervene and to engage a young
person aged 14-17 with positive activities, with the aim of preventing further involvement
in gangs, violence and/or gang-related drug dealing activity”. (Home Office, June 2015)
The Serious Crime Act 2015 amended the Crime and Security Act 2010 to extend this
provision from 18 years and to include children and young people (14-17 year olds). Gang
injunctions also now covers drug dealing activity
President Rodrigo Duterte was once told the reporters to asked parents to keep
their children off the streets at nights, stressing that would strictly implement the 10 p.m.-
4 a.m. curfew on minors. Apprehended children are detained at the city police command
or the nearest police station where they are caught. They are released in the morning.
Vilela, pointed out that some gangs are just "simple peer groups" formed by
children to meet the need for belonging and identity. She related that in 1999 three girls
aged 8-12 detained at a police cell were putting on lipstick one day. From then on, they
decided to call themselves the Lipstick Gang, (Vilela).
Theoretical Framework
This study is anchored on Maslow’s theory the Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It is
a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often
depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid.
Needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend
to needs higher up. From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are:
physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization.
Growth needs do not stem from a lack of something, but rather from a desire to
grow as a person. Once these growth needs have been reasonably satisfied, one may be
able to reach the highest level called self-actualization.
Every person is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchy toward a
level of self-actualization. Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by a failure to meet
lower level needs. Life experiences, including divorce and loss of a job, may cause an
individual to fluctuate between levels of the hierarchy.
Therefore, not everyone will move through the hierarchy in a uni-directional
manner but may move back and forth between the different types of needs.
Conceptual Framework
In this study, the theory of Gang war among street children in Butuan City. In here,
the independent variable as shown in the diagram is the Gang war while the dependent
variable is the street children.
Independent Variable Dependent Variable
Gang War Street Children
Figure 1: Research Paradigm of the Study
Statement of the Problem
The study determined the level of Addiction and street children in Butuan City.
More specifically, this answered the following questions:
1. What is the level of Gang war in Butuan City?
2. What are its effect to the Children?
3. Is there a significant relationship between Gang War and Street Children?
Hypothesis
This study was guided by a single null hypothesis tested at the 0.05 level of significance.
Ho: There is no significant relationship between the levels of Gang war among Street
Children in Butuan City.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
This study is focused on the Gang War among Street Children in Butuan City. The
independent variable of the study is the Gang War. The dependent variable is the street
Children.
Significance of the Study
This study is beneficial to the following:
Children. This research will serve as a guidance for each child in order for them
to not enter in any kind of Gang in the community.
Government officials. The result of this study will help the government officials to
take the actions to lessen the making of Gang groups in the community.
Parents. This research will serves as a reminder that their children needs their
time and attention and they have the responsibility of giving their children the needs that
no one can ever give but them.
Definition of Terms
In order to understand the terms used in this study, the following words are
operationally defined:
Gang War. It is a group of adolescents who band
together, especially a group of delinquents.
Street Children. Street children are minors who live and survive on the streets.
They often grow up in public landfills, train stations, our under the bridges of the world’s
major cities. Because of conflicts with their family, these children don’t want to or can’t
return home.
GANG WAR AMONG STREET CHILDREN IN BUTUAN CITY
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An Undergraduate Thesis
Presented to the Faculty of the Criminal Justice Education
Holy Child Colleges of Butuan
Butuan City, Philippines
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In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINOLOGY
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RHENA MAE MATURAN
