Philippine E-Journals

NANUNUNGKULAN AS LEVIATHAN: A STUDY ON CHILDREN-IN-CONFLICT WITH THE LAW “PRISON” ORGANIZATION IN RELATION TO THOMAS HOBBES' SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

Cerynna Gabrielle Gonzales | Sherman Louis Gabito

 

Abstract:

States have been dealing with different methods to approach juvenile delinquency specifically how to stop Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) from re-offending. This study discovered a possible way to address this issue, especially to states adopting a treatment-based program. The purpose of this research is to have an in-depth study about the prison organization called Nanunungkulan / leaders composed of CICL in Manila Youth Reception Center (MYRC). By which, the said prison organization was explained through Thomas Hobbes Social Contract Theory. This study also identified the relationship of the Nanunungkulan to the CICL submissive to them and the outcome of such submission once the CICL were released. This has been done by interviewing released CICL, the Social Welfare Officer Head, and Thomas Hobbes experts to relate the experience of CICL to state of nature, leviathan, and social contract. This showed that the CICL subjects were at first, absolutely violent because the SWOs by law cannot harm them. Until such time CICL became fearful yet submissive to the Nanunungkulan or leaders who instill discipline and order inside through violent punishment. The released CICL obeyed the leaders' rules and orders for their own safety/protection and own good from the proved violence inside. The violence in MYRC portrays Thomas Hobbes' state of nature, the prison organization or Nanunungkulan acts as the Leviathan, and the submission of the CICL subjects as the social contract. The outcome of the said process greatly helped the Released CICL. Thus, the researcher recommends that the presence of leaders in Youth detention homes should be considered with violence to be observed.