Illegal Drug offenses among Children in Batangas, Philippines: A Narrative Introspection

The increasing number of children in conflict with law (CICL) and the current move in the Philippine legislative branch to lower down the criminal liability age to 9 or 12 years old necessitates the need to reexamine why children commit crimes using a different lens. The study aimed to describe the recurring themes in the lived experiences of male and female CICL with drug-related cases and to propose a gender-responsive framework as basis for the development of programs for CICL. Using the qualitative research design, the study focused on 5 male and 3 female CICL custodies of various Bahay Pagasa in Batangas. The qualitative data were analyzed using coding and narrative analysis framework particularly following the Holistic-Content approach. The male CICL lack parental attachment and bond which has reinforced influence of delinquent peers and adoption of deviant behaviors while the absence of maternal guidance and experience of violence inside the home among female CICL has catalyzed the desire to escape and strengthen attachment to delinquent peers. Considering these, a gender-responsive framework that focuses on equality of access and opportunities as well as gender-sensitive interventions and facilities are endorsed.