CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) marked another milestone of achievement in the realm of Modern Forensic Technology as it unveiled its globally competetive PNP Forensic Group earlier this week.

The forensic group, developed from the PNP Crime Laboratory, also presented its marker, logo, and display gallery of vintage equipment used in forensic examination.

The occasion, which was held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, was officiated by PNP Chief PGen Dionardo B Carlos as guest of honor and speaker.

The renaming of the PNP Crime Laboratory to PNP Forensic Group was intended to identify and align its nomenclature with that of Asian countries which adopt the term “Forensic” for its units providing forensic services.

“The Group saw continuous improvements and has advanced through the years with the establishment of Forensic Divisions such as the Medico-Legal, Chemistry, DNA Laboratory Branch, Physical Identification, Firearms Identification, Questioned Document Examination, Polygraph, and Fingerprint Identification thereby ensuring a high-level, competent, and credible application of forensic science in crime processing which are indispensible in the effective delivery of justice,”, PGen Carlos said.

“As agents of forensic science, you complement the vital work of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management and support the work of police investigators in the field by analyzing and ensuring the integrity of the evidence collected by them in order to establish facts admissible as evidence in the court of law,” he added.

PGen Carlos also explained that the PNP and other Philippine law enforcement agencies are members of the Asian Forensic Science Network (AFSN) that was established in 2008 with the purpose of providing a platform for the forensic scientist in Asia to come together to discuss, share, and advance forensic science.

“Thus, the name Forensic Group is consistent with and descriptive of its functions in the field of forensic. Without you and forensic science, the nation's biggest and sensational crime cases will go unpunished while the worst murderers, rapists, drug addicts, and terrorists will continue to walk free,” he said.

Just this year, the PNP Crime Laboratory successfully hosted the 13th AFSN Annual Meeting and Symposium through an online platform.

The AFSN has a Quality Assurance and Standards Committee and eight Technical Working Groups namely, Crime Scene Investigation, Digital Forensics, DNA, Fingerprint, Illicit Drugs, Toxicology, Trace Evidence, and Questioned Document.

Meanwhile, the historic unveiling of the group’s Marker and Logo also paved way for the inauguration of the PNP Forensic Group Display Gallery that depicts the evolution of forensic technology and techniques used by the Unit from simple to more sophisticated equipment to keep abreast with the emerging new technology and to be globally competent in delivering forensic services as evident by its ISO 9001:2015 Certification.

The first PNP Unit to be ISO 9001 certified since 2006, the Group successfully hurdled the 1st Surveillance Audit with Site Inclusion wherein six Forensic Units are now included in the Quality Management System namely: Regional Forensic Units 3, 7, 11 and Cordillera and Quezon City and Northern Police District Forensic Unit.

The PNP Crime Laboratory was renamed to PNP Forensic Group through General Orders Number DPL-20-32, pursuant to NAPOLCOM Resolution No. 2021-1275 dated September 30, 2021, and shall continue to perform its mandates as provided for under Section 35(a) of Republic Act no. 6975 in providing scientific and investigative aid and support to the PNP and other government investigative agencies.

“Guided by the core values of Discipline, Excellence and Integrity, may you continue to make yourselves relevant and useful by providing world-class scientific services and technical support to PNP Offices and other law enforcement agencies of the government towards the shared goal of a sustainable and equitable progress,” he said. (PNP-PIO/PIA-NCR)