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OUTCOMES OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM AT THE ILOILO PROVINCE
PAROLE AND PROBATION OFFICE NO.2
A SPECIAL PAPER
Presented to
The Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences
Central Philippine University
Iloilo City
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
JANINE A. CABUSBUSAN
November 2016
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Background o f the Study
In the field of Social Work Practice, the concept of self-reliance and self-
determination are of primordial importance. The social worker is expected to provide
numerous interventions to bring about changes in families, communities and the entire
society. A social worker who works with offenders must have a repertoire of
interventions that could effect change in the clientele. Among these interventions
emerge the philosophy of restorative justice which is aimed at bringing about healing
and reconciliation for concerned individuals and groups.
According to the National Association of Social Workers Social Work Code of
Ethics, the 6 core values of social work are: 1) Service; 2) Social Justice; 3) Dignity and
Worth of the Person; 4) Importance of Human Relationships; 5) Integrity; and 6)
Competence. Social justice as a core value calls for more restorative methods of justice
to be adopted. Restorative justice through a social worker’s lens exists as an alternative
to punitive methods of justice. It seeks peace and reconciliation.
This practice of restorative justice is not only applicable in western countries but
also in the local setting. Actually, the principle of restorative justice is indigenous in the
Philippine setting. The research report of Barrameda (2008), Mainstreaming Bodong
Through Matagoan, discussed the mainstreaming of a restorative justice system being
practiced by the Kalingas of Northern Cordillera and the problems such mainstreaming is
encountering. Mainstreaming refers to the formal recognition of indigenous structures
and principles by the local government and their promotion or incorporation in programs
and policies.
2
The Parole and Probation Administration, abbreviated as PPA-DOJ, is an agency
of the Philippine Government under the Department of Justice responsible for providing
a less costly alternative to imprisonment of offenders who are likely to respond to
individualized community-based treatment programs.
In the light of its mission of rehabilitating probationers, parolees and pardonees
to promote their development as integral persons by utilizing innovative interventions
and techniques which respect the dignity of man and recognize his divine destiny, PPA-
DOJ has now adopted a community-based program with three major components.
These are (1) Restorative Justice which serves as the framework of the program; (2)
Therapeutic Community as the treatment modality; and (3) Volunteer Probation Aides as
the lead community resource (Herradura, 2009)
Restorative Justice is a philosophy and a process whereby stakeholders in a
specific offense resolve collectively how to deal with the aftermath of the offense and its
implications for the future. It is a victim-centered response to crime that provides
opportunity for those directly affected by the crime - the victim, the offender, their
families and the community - to be directly involved in responding to the harm caused by
the crime. Its ultimate objective is to restore the broken relationships among
stakeholders. It provides a healing opportunity for affected parties to facilitate the
recovery of the concerned parties and allow them to move on with their lives.
The Therapeutic Community (TC) is a self-help social learning treatment model
used in the rehabilitation of drug offenders and other clients with behavioral problems.
TC adheres to precepts of “right living" - Responsible Love and Concern; Truth and
Honesty; the Here and Now; Personal Responsibility for Destiny; Social Responsibility
(brother’s keeper); Moral Code; Work Ethics and Pride in Quality. It is an environment
that helps people get help while helping themselves. It operates in a similar fashion to a
functional family with a hierarchical structure of older and younger members. Each
3
member has a defined set of roles and responsibilities for sustaining the proper
functioning of the TC. There are sets of rules and community norms that members
commit to live by and uphold upon entry. The primary “therapist” and teacher is the
community itself, consisting of peers, staff/probation and parole officers (PPOs) and
even Volunteer Probation Aides (VPA), who, as role models of successful personal
change, serve as guides in the recovery process (Malaygay, 2015).
The Volunteer Probation Aide (VPA) Program is a strategy by which the Parole
and Probation Administration may be able to generate maximum citizen participation or
community involvement. Citizens of good standing in the community may volunteer to
assist the probation and parole officers in the supervision of a number of probationers,
parolees and conditional pardonees in their respective communities. Since they reside in
the same community as the client, they are able to usher the reformation and
rehabilitation of the clients hands-on (Herradura, 2009).
In short, the Volunteer Probation Aides assist the offenders towards rehabilitation
while they are under supervision in their respective communities. In collaboration with
the PPO, the VPA helps pave the way for the offender, victim and community to each
heal from the harm resulting from the crime done. They can initiate a circle of support for
clients and victims to prevent further crimes, thereby acting as participants in nation
building.
The outcomes of restorative justice interventions appear interesting in view of its
major function of restoring the losses suffered by the victims of crimes, holding offenders
accountable for the harm they have caused, and building peace within communities.
It is within the purview of this shift in paradigm in addressing the effects of crime
that this study was conducted.
Statement o f the Problem

4
Statement of the Problem
The present study was an attempt to determine and describe the outcomes of the
restorative justice program in Iloilo Province Parole and Probation Office No.2. To carry
out this objective, three outcome variables were considered. These were: (1) losses
suffered by the victims of crimes; (2) offenders’ accountability for the harm caused; and
(3) building peace within communities.
Specifically, the study attempted to find answers to the following questions:
1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of such variables as age,
gender, level of education, length of supervision period, client type, residence and
present living arrangement?
2. What are the outcomes of restorative justice in restoring the losses suffered by
the victims?
3. What are the outcomes of restorative justice in defining offenders’
accountability for the harm caused by the crime?
4. What are the outcomes of restorative justice in terms of building peace in the
community?
5. Are there significant differences in the restoration of losses suffered by the
victims when the respondents are classified according to age, gender, education, length
of supervision and client type, residence and present living arrangement?
6. Are there significant differences in defining offenders’ accountability for the
harm caused by the crime when the respondents are classified according to age,
gender, education length of supervision and client type, residence and present living
arrangement?
7. Are there significant differences in building peace in the community when
respondents are classified according to age, gender, education, length of supervision
and client type, residence and present living arrangement?

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OUTCOMES OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM AT THE ILOILO PROVINCE

PAROLE AND PROBATION OFFICE NO.2

Background o f the Study

determination are of primordial importance. The social worker is expected to provide

and reconciliation for concerned individuals and groups.

According to the National Association of Social Workers Social Work Code of

Worth of the Person; 4) Importance of Human Relationships; 5) Integrity; and 6)

to be adopted. Restorative justice through a social worker’s lens exists as an alternative

to punitive methods of justice. It seeks peace and reconciliation.

Philippine setting. The research report of Barrameda (2008), Mainstreaming Bodong

Through Matagoan, discussed the mainstreaming of a restorative justice system being

encountering. Mainstreaming refers to the formal recognition of indigenous structures

The Parole and Probation Administration, abbreviated as PPA-DOJ, is an agency

a less costly alternative to imprisonment of offenders who are likely to respond to

individualized community-based treatment programs.

In the light of its mission of rehabilitating probationers, parolees and pardonees

to promote their development as integral persons by utilizing innovative interventions

the lead community resource (Herradura, 2009)

Restorative Justice is a philosophy and a process whereby stakeholders in a

implications for the future. It is a victim-centered response to crime that provides

stakeholders. It provides a healing opportunity for affected parties to facilitate the

The Therapeutic Community (TC) is a self-help social learning treatment model

change, serve as guides in the recovery process (Malaygay, 2015).

and Probation Administration may be able to generate maximum citizen participation or

community involvement. Citizens of good standing in the community may volunteer to

rehabilitation of the clients hands-on (Herradura, 2009).

The outcomes of restorative justice interventions appear interesting in view of its

that this study was conducted.

Statement o f the Problem

Statement of the Problem

(3) building peace within communities.

Specifically, the study attempted to find answers to the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of such variables as age,

present living arrangement?

3. What are the outcomes of restorative justice in defining offenders’

accountability for the harm caused by the crime?

5. Are there significant differences in the restoration of losses suffered by the

of supervision and client type, residence and present living arrangement?

6. Are there significant differences in defining offenders’ accountability for the

7. Are there significant differences in building peace in the community when

respondents are classified according to age, gender, education, length of supervision

and client type, residence and present living arrangement?

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