FORENSIC SCIENCE TRAINING

FOR JUDGES, PUBLIC PROSECUTORS AND PAO LAWYERS

Forensic science has become very critical to the efficiency and effectiveness of the
criminal justice system. The main contribution forensic science has provided in the
criminal justice system is the generation of vital information to assist criminal
investigations in obtaining evidence other than the testimony of an eyewitness to
convict the guilty or exculpate the innocent.
Due to the increasingly important role played by forensic evidence in criminal
investigations, the Justice Sector Coordinating Council has taken particular interest in
ensuring the public that our judges, public prosecutors and lawyers from the Public
Attorney's Office possess sufficient knowledge and understanding on the intricacies of
forensic science and forensic evidence.
Thus, on January and February 2015, judges, public prosecutors and PAO lawyers from
Quezon City will go on board a three-day Forensic Science Training to be held at the
Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, Camp Crame, Quezon City. Participants of
this training will be provided with sufficient understanding and familiarity with the
principles, protocols and procedures involved in several disciplines in forensic science to
make a better assessment on the relevance, reliability and evidential value of forensic
evidence.
The Forensic Science Training includes actual demonstrations in different forensic fields
using the advanced technological capability of the Philippine National Police Crime
Laboratory.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame, Quezon City is
now a modern unit with advanced equipment and highly trained personnel. The agents
of the Crime Lab, commonly called SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives), are as
crucial to crime solution as police officers chasing criminals.

In recent years, the PNP Crime Lab acquired some high-tech investigative technology
like the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS), the Automated Fingerprint
Identification System (AFIS), DNA Laboratory and Computerized Facial Composite.

Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS)

Every firearm leaves unique markings that serve as mechanical fingerprints of the
firearm on the bullets and cartridge cases when fired. These markings can be used to
trace a particular firearm.
Success Stories
Through the IBIS, PNP Crime Lab investigators were able to trace the firearms the
killers used in the shooting of Viva Hot Babe Scarlet Garcia, her boyfriend and two other
friends during a robbery in Olongapo City last March 13, 2008.
The suspects escaped, but a month later, Garcias killers were arrested when they tried
to rob a house in Pampanga. During cross matching, forensic investigators found out
the bullets that killed Garcia came from the guns seized from the robbers. Through the
IBIS, PNP forensic examiners were also able to link the firearms to 34 other criminal
activities in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

From 2005 to 2008, there were 36 shooting incidents that transpired in various areas in
NCR, Regions 3 and 4A leaving 91 victims. Initial investigation revealed that in those
shooting incidents, a total of 11 firearms of assorted calibers, types and makes were
used.
On December 2011, IBIS flagged a hit for a particular 9mm Glock pistol and was
linked to 24 of the 36 shooting incidents. Records from the Firearms and Explosives
Division revealed that the 9mm Glock was licensed under the 2008 firearm amnesty
program.

Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)

The AFIS is capable of storing 952,000 latent and tenprint cards, but at present, there
are 4,631 hits, 705,187 ten-prints and 17,117 latent prints in the database. These were
obtained from old ten-prints and from those submitted by police investigators and
SOCO teams.
Success Stories
It was through the AFIS that the infamous Pajero Lady was identified despite changing
her appearance and identity by undergoing plastic surgery. The suspect, who uses
several aliases, tried to elude arrest by staging her own death after a badly-burned
corpse was found inside a car in 2003. But police investigators found that her
fingerprints did not match the fingerprints from the remains of the body found inside
the car.

DNA Laboratory - Medico-Legal Division

The PNP Crime Lab also has a nuclear-type DNA Laboratory. However, it takes some
30 days for an examination to be completed.
To keep up with the global trend, the PNP contemplates to purchase the mitochondrialtype DNA Lab, which is capable of generating results in just three days and is capable
of processing genetic materials obtained from bones or from a decomposing corpse.

Success Stories
Crime Lab examiners also perform odontology or the scientific study of the structure
and diseases of teeth. This was the process used in identifying Ruby Rose Barrameda,
whose decomposing body was found stuffed and buried in a drum filled with concrete.
Ruby Rose, 26, went missing in March 2007. Murder charges have been filed against
her alleged killers.

Forensic Photography

Sometimes referred to as "forensic imaging" or "crime scene photography", is the art of

producing an accurate reproduction of a crime scene or an accident scene using
photography for the benefit of a court or to aid in an investigation. It is part of the
process of evidence collecting. It provides investigators with photos of victims, places
and items involved in the crime.
The latest anti-crime equipment added to the PNP Crime Lab - Forensic Photography
Division is the Composite Facial Composite (CFC), a technology that provides precise
facial profiling of a suspect.
Success Stories
The CFC technology was proven to be accurate in the case of Jason Ivler, who was
accused of shooting to death Renato Ebarle Jr., allegedly in a fit of road rage on
November 18, 2009. Through the use of the CFC, a witness described Ivlers looks to a
forensic examiner. The technology provided a photo-like description of the suspect.
After Ivler's facial profile was published in several newspapers, the public became
aware of Ivlers description and was eventually arrested.

Physical Identification

From tiny pieces of evidence like strands of hair, fibers, cordages, paint chips, metal
and glasses fragments and soil, the chemist could establish the probable source and
detect its connection with a crime. This laboratory technique is also used to detect
tampered serial numbers of motor vehicles and other appliances. It also identifies
shoeprints, the impressions and toolmarks and compare them with that found in the
possession of the suspect.

Forensic Chemistry

This is the application of chemistry to law enforcement or the failure of products or

processes. Many different analytical methods may be used to reveal what chemical
changes occurred during an incident, and so help reconstruct the sequence of events.
Drug testing, gun powder residue determination, toxicology examination, chemical test
(unfair trade competition), blood alcohol test and explosive substance determination fall
under Forensic Chemistry.

Questioned Document Examination (QDE)

This is a term for a forensic science discipline pertaining to documents that are
potentially disputed in a court of law. The primary purpose of this is to provide evidence
about a suspicious or questionable document using a variety of scientific processes and
methods. Evidence might include alterations, the chain of possession, damage to the
document, forgery, origin, authenticity, or any other questions that come up when a
document is challenged in court.
Many questioned document examinations involve a comparison of the questioned
document, or components of the document, to a set of known standards. The most
common type of examination involves handwriting wherein the examiner tries to
address concerns about potential authorship.

Polygraph

A polygraph (popularly referred to as a lie detector) measures and records several

physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity
while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions. The belief underpinning
the use of the polygraph is that deceptive answers will produce physiological responses
that can be differentiated from those associated with non-deceptive answers.