“I am an Alpha”: Socio-economic experiences and challenges of being a confidential informant
List of Authors
  • Bernard V. Gerona

Keyword
  • Confidential Informant, Informant, Police, Intelligence gathering

Abstract
  • Series of studies on confidential informants from the perspective of police operation had been published, however, rarely on the life of confidential informants had been studied. A Confidential Informant is a person who gathers data for varied purposes such as livelihood security, sense of usefulness, and other reasons. This study utilized narration as a method of narrative research among stigmatized, un-empowered people. It described and analyzed the experiences and struggles of a Confidential Informant and established a narrative representation of their life, the factors or influences as well as the gains from information-gathering. The informants of the study are purposely chosen from the criteria such as: (1) a person who has/had experience in gathering information, gave the said information to a member(s) of Philippine National Police. Themes with sub-themes on each participant emerged. Education, familial relations, aspiration for a better life, livelihood security, and sense of usefulness play vital roles in the life of a Confidential Informant. Results of the study had shown that all Confidential Informants from childhood up to adulthood experienced poverty and based on their narratives, the significant factors which lead them to accept such job are: (a) Poverty; (b) Lack of access to education; and (c) Financially unsecured livelihood. Lastly, all Confidential Informants were recruited by a police-recruiter whom they know in course of their respective jobs. Lastly, this study provides a different perspective on the Confidential Informant, not just from police operation, but from the socio-economic and inward outlook of their actual lives.

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