PARTICIPATION OF THE COMMUNITY IN CRIME PREVENTION

IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF APARRI

John Paul Balmores Robin Jhon Calanoga Rommel Bryan Balajadia Wendy Batulan
Jerell Belandres Zhymund Arish Borromeo John Rey Corea Richard Danao
Darell James Deguzman Alvin Fuerte, John Mark Macutay,
Crisia Oandasan, Darrel Palattao Khristian Ivan Reynon,
Edison Romina, Ria Leigh Cristy Rosales,Jay-pee Siriban
Dennier Lloyd Sumer Jaylord Tipon
Princess Mae Urcia
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERISTY APARRI CAMPUS-PHILIPPINES
ijpaulbalmores11@gmail.com

ABSTRACT- Crime prevention shouldn’t be just a duty of the law enforcers. With its broad
scope, it shall be the duty and responsibility of anybody from the members of the community.
This study was conducted to assess the extent of the participation of the community in crime
prevention in the municipality of aparri. It also sought to assessed the extent of implementation
of the crime prevention measures of aparri police Station. It also aimed to found out the
problems encountered on the participation of the community in crime prevention in the said
municipality and also the measures to improve the participation of the community in crime
prevention in the municipality of Aparri. Results of the study found out that the PNP uniformed
personnel of Aparri Police Station were implementing all their crime prevention measures
specially, in citizen calls for assistance. The participation in crime prevention of the of the four
groups of the community respondents on the study revealed that it was impressive, however,
there are still a reluctant on their part to participate in the crime prevention measures of the
PNP. The prime measures perceived is there must be a close coordination with the police to
the public and vise-versa, Therefore, the uniformed Personnel of Aparri Police Station are
advised to enhance their good relationship to the members of the community specifically on
the religious groups that may help them to motivate people to put their trust and support for a
better pursuant of their duties and responsibilities.
Keyword- Participation of the community in crime prevention

INTRODUCTION: Crime prevention is the attempt to reduce crime and deter crime and
criminals. It is applied specifically to efforts made by the governments to reduce crime, enforce
the law and maintain criminal justice. Some countries in the world are aware in preventing the
existence of crime in their society, however some of those countries believing that the
participation of the community in crime prevention has a great contribution to fully enforce
this goal. Crime prevention and ensure a peaceful and orderly community is a basic mission of
the Police Force. As a basis, on Republic Act 8551, Title I, Section 2, it is hereby declared the
policy of the state to establish a highly efficient and competent police force that is national in
scope and civilian in character. The PNP shall be a community and service oriented agency
responsible for the maintenance of peace and order and public safety. And as provided, on
section 24 of the same act, states the specific powers and function of the PNP to relatively

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maintain and promote peace and order. Although in some in insights, the ability of the police
to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police existence, actions, behavior
and the ability of the law enforcers to secure and maintain public respect, as Mr. Davis wrote
that no Policemen can work in a hostile environment. Moreover, in Presidential Decree
No.1232, authorizing the organization of the community group to serve as effective vehicles
for organized community participation in crime prevention. Looking towards this dimension,
definitely the community itself has a great contribution in preventing the existence of crimes,
taking for an instance that in a few numbers of Law Enforcers in a millions of citizens and
those citizens half of them maybe a law violators, without the help of the community itself, do
these law enforcers can solve, apprehend, and stop the existence of crimes? From those visions
happened today, it’s a no, so the community itself needs to fully cooperate in this crime
prevention program by those already in action.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to assess the participation of the community in crime prevention in
the municipality of aparri. It also sought to found out the extent of the crime prevention
measures of aparri police station and the problems encountered in the participation of the
community in crime prevention likewise the measures offered to improve the participation of
the community in crime prevention in the municipality of aparri.

METHODS
The descriptive comparative method was used in this study. This method was used since
the objectives of the study requires identification of the crime prevention measures of Aparri
Police Station, assessment of the extent of participation of the following sectors NGO’s,
Religious Groups, School Officials and the Barangay Officials in the Municipality of Aparri in
crime prevention. Likewise, the problems encountered of the community participation in crime
prevention, and the measures undertaken to improve the community participation in crime
prevention. The researchers first sought the approval of the conduct of the study through a
formal letter of request to the Officer-In-Charge of Police Station after the approval the
researchers floated the questionnaires to the respondents, the retrieval of the questionnaire was
through the assistance of the researchers. The researcher made used a descriptive scale and a
weighted mean analysis on the crime prevention measures of Aparri Police Station, same as to
the perceptions of the respondents on the extent of the participation of the four groups of the
community respondents in crime prevention. Likewise, to the problems encountered. A
frequency count and ranking was used in the measures offered.

RESULTS and DISCUSSIONS

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 A. Table 1. Crime prevention measures of Aparri Police Station.

Items PNP NGOH RGL BC SOH TOTAL

Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean DS
DS DS DS DS DS
There is a police assigned in the barangay. 3.94 3.67 4 3.43 2.71 3.55 Oft
Oft Oft Oft Oft Oft
Barangay captain help solve minor cases. 3.89 3.67 4 4.86 4 4.08 Oft
Oft Oft Oft Alw Oft
there are enough functional street lights in 3.46 4.33 4. 4.5 4.57 4.17 Oft
the barangay. Oft Oft Oft Oft
There are rondas of tanods during night 3.74 3.33 3.14 4.79 2.57 3.51 Oft
times. Oft Oft Oft Oft Sel
Bantay-Bayan is operational. 3.54 3.67 2.57 4.43 2.71 3.38 Occ
Oft Oft Sel Oft Occ
Good delivery of health services. 3.51 2.67 2.71 3.5 4.14 3.31 Occ
Oft Occ Occ Oft Oft
There are available info materials like 3.23 5 4.71 4.93 4.71 4.52 Alw
against drug abuse and other crimes. Occ Alw Alw Alw Alw
There are adequate recreational facilities. 3.54 4.67 4.23 4.43 4.14 4.20 Alw
Oft Alw Alw Alw Oft
Law enforcers conduct trainings for 3.31 3 2.71 2.64 2.86 2.90 Occ
civilian volunteers. Occ Occ Occ Occ Occ
Speedy police response to calls for 4.31 4.67 4.86 4.43 4.86 4.63 Alw
assistance. Alw Alw Alw Alw Alw
Presence of intensified police intelligence 4.2 3.33 4.71 3.57 4.14 3.99 Oft
works for the effective identification of Alw Oft Alw Oft Oft
organized crime syndicates/terrorist/ ultra-
rightist groups.
Close coordination with concerned on laws 4.4 3 Oft 2.86 4.07 2.29 3.32 Occ
of anti-gambling, anti-smugling etc. Oft Oft Oft Sel
Presence of barangay intelligence 4.25 2.67 2.57 4.36 2.43 3.26 Occ
networks. Alw Occ Sel Alw Alw
Implementation of an Area Community 4.14 3.67 3.86 4.43 2.86 3.81 Oft
Public Safety Plan. Oft Oft Oft Alw Occ
Category Mean 3.81 3.67 3.64 4.17 3.5 3.76 Oft
Oft Oft Oft Oft Oft
Alw-Always Oft-Often Occ-Occasional Sel-Seldom
The category mean 3.76 it shows that the perception of the respondents along crime
prevention measures of aparri police station were often implemented which implies that the
PNP uniformed personnel of aparri police station are implementing their crime prevention
measures however they give preference to citizens call for assistance.

B. Table 2. Over-all summary on the perceptions of the respondents on the extent of the
Participation of the Community in Crime Prevention in the Municipality of Aparri.

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 Dimensions Category Mean DS

NGO Heads 2.2 NMI

Religious Groups leaders 4.36 VMI
Barangay Chairmen 4.47 VMI
School Officials Heads 4.85 VMI
Over-all Mean 3.97 MI
VMI- Very Much Involved NMI-Not Much Involved MI-Much Involved

The above table shows that the overall mean of the perception of the respondents in the
extent of the participation of the community in crime preventions in the municipality of aparri
is 3.97 or much involved. This implies that the participation of the community in crime
prevention must build up more.

C. Comparison of the perception of the respondents on the extent of the Participation of the
community in crime prevention in the municipality of aparri.
Table 3. Test of difference between the perceptions of the respondents on the extent of the
community participation in crime prevention in the municipality of Aparri

Dimension Respondents r t p Decision

NGOs PNP-UP .9877 0.0579 1.638 Reject Ho

LFGCR
Religious Groups PNP-UP .6694 0.3009 1.415 Reject Ho
LFGCR
Barangay officials PNP-UP .6694 0.2528 1.415 Reject Ho
LFGCR
School Officials PNP-UP .4575 0.0948 1.345 Reject Ho
LFGCR

α = .10
The null hypothesis earlier presented in this study is rejected. This means that there is
a significant difference between the perceptions of the respondents on the extent of the
Participation of the Community Participation in Crime Prevention in the municipality of
Aparri. This implies that the respondents exhibit different perceptions on the Participation of
the Community Crime Prevention in the Municipality of Aparri.

D. Perceptions of the respondents on the problems encountered on the participation of the

community in crime prevention in the municipality of aparri.

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 Table 4. Perception of the respondents on the problems encountered on the participation of
the community in crime prevention in the municipality of aparri

Items Mean DS
Public do not trust the police. 3.06 MS
Public do not cooperate with police authorities. 2.86 MS
Lack of budgetary support to implement Bantay-Bayan, etc. 3.27 MS
Lack of equipment facilities like radios, vehicles, etc. 3.17 MS
Police do not respond immediately to call. 2.18 LS
Police do not conduct follow-ups on reported cases. 2.29 LS
Lack of coordinated efforts between interested groups. 2.55 LS
Public not aware of the crime prevention programs of the police. 2.52 LS
Public do not accept equal responsibility on the fights against crimes. 2.71 MS
Lack of Policemen in the barangay. 2.79 MS
Category Mean 2.74 MS
MS - Moderately Serious LS - Less Serious

The over-all mean 2.74 connotes that the problems encountered on the community
participation in crime prevention in the municipality of aparri are moderately serious. The item
“lack of budgetary support to implement Bantay-Bayan”, was perceived with the highest mean
of 3.27 almost place into serious. On the other hand the item “police do not respond
immediately to call” perceived with lowest mean of 2.18 less serious. However, the category
mean 2.74 still means moderately serious, hence the problems encountered on the participation
of the community in crime prevention in the municipality of Aparri are still manageable.

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E. Measures offered to improve the participation of the community in crime prevention in the
municipality of Aparri.
Table 5. Frequency and rank distribution of the measures offered to improve the participation
of the community in crime prevention in the municipality of aparri

Items F Rank

Proper coordination with the police to the public. 60 1

Conduct symposium regarding crime prevention in every barangay and school. 58 2
Police shall inform and regard the regard the public to their crime prevention 57 3
programs.
Distribution of fliers for crime prevention tips. 56 4.5
Close coordination of the police with the concerned agencies of crime prevention. 56 4.5
Law enforcers conduct trainings for civilian volunteers. 52 7.5
Police shall conduct meeting with the force multipliers and other sectors/ 52 7.5
agencies.
Includes community members/groups in decision making, and planning of such 51 9
crime prevention programs.
Religious groups conduct bible studies conduct bible studies associated by the 50 11.5
officials and other community groups.
Grant scholars for the actively participates in community service. 50 11.5
Provide enough equipment facilities like radios, vehicle and etc. 50 11.5
There must be enough budgetary support to implement bantay-bayan, etc. for 50 11.5
crime prevention.
F-Frequency
The respondents rank the item “Proper coordination with police to the public and vise-
versa” as the number one measures offered to improve the participation of the community in
crime prevention in the municipality of Aparri. This means that the coordination of the police
and the members of the community is desirable and prime measures of the respondents on the
PCCP in the municipality of aparri.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS

The crime prevention measures of aparri police station was generally assessed as often
implemented as indicated with the perceptions of the respondents. The comparison of the
perceptions of the respondents resulted in the rejection of the null hypothesis after subjected to
inferential test it shows that there are significant difference between the perceptions of the
respondents on the extent of the participation of the community in crime prevention in the
municipality of aparri. On the other hand, some problems are encountered along the
participation of the community, but important suggestions were offered to address the
problems. Based on the findings and conclusions of the study it is recommended that, There
must be proper coordination of the police to the public and vise-versa in terms of crime
prevention, the PNP-Uniformed personnel of Aparri Police Station must conduct symposium
regarding crime prevention in every barangay and school, the PNP uniformed personnel of

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Aparri police station shall enhance their good relationship with the religious sectors, a similar
study should be conducted along the same area involving other groups of the community and
with a wider scope and a larger sample size to include the impact of the program.

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