THE Philippines, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is on track in creating its own ‘National Forensic Institute’ (NFI) that would also position the country as a “regional hub for high-quality forensic services, training, and research,” the Department of Justice said.
In a statement last September 18, the DOJ said it has already convened another meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) presided by Senior Undersecretary Jesse Andres that was attended by the various government agencies involved in the project.
Under Administrative Order (AO) 29 signed by President Marcos Jr, last January 22, 2024, the TWG is co-chaired by the Executive Secretary and the Secretary of Justice with the participation of the following:
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Presidential Human Rights Secretariat (PHRC) and the University of the Philippines, Manila Campus (UP-Manila).
The DOJ said the follow-up meeting tackled key developments of the project such as the creation of a ‘Master’s Program in Forensic Medicine’ to be offered by UP-Manila in partnership with Australia’s ‘Monash University.’
The discussion also focused on funding sources and the establishment of an NFI Building at the UP-Manila campus. The NFI is envisioned to be operational within the next two years or before the end of the Marcos administration, the DOJ said.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the creation of the NFI is a “crucial step in ensuring that every person deprived of liberty, regardless of their circumstances, is treated with dignity, and that any loss of life is examined with transparency, accountability, and care.”
The NFI is also envisioned to offer scientific support in key areas such as forensic pathology, toxicology, DNA analysis, and digital forensics, among others.
It is also expected to serve as a venue for building the capacities of investigators, prosecutors, and allied professionals engaged in criminal justice work.