LIFE WASTED. Aldryn Leary Bravante, a 25-year-old senior student of the Philippine College of Criminology, allegedly died due to hazing. Bohol 3rd District Rep. Alexie Tutor on Monday (Oct. 23, 2023) said in a statement that it’s high time to establish a National Forensic Service. (Photo courtesy of QCPD)
MANILA – The establishment of a National Forensic Service (NFS) is long overdue and will effectively deal with rising cases of hazing, cybercrime, rape and illegal drugs, according to the chairperson of the House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation.
Bohol 3rd District Rep. Alexie Tutor said in a statement Monday that the proposed NFS, in consultation with medical experts and scientists, should be placed under the Department of Science and Technology to ensure its professional and operational independence and scientific objectivity.
She likewise called for the development of a professional law on forensics.
"Dahil sa laganap na kaso ng hazing, cybercrime, rape, at illegal drugs sa buong bansa, pabor ako na magkaroon ng profession law para sa forensics. Panahon na rin para magkaroon ang ating bansa ng isang national forensics service. Kailangan ng Pilipinas ang mga ito (Due to the prevalent cases of hazing, cybercrime, rape and illegal drugs nationwide, I am in favor of having a professional law for forensics. It is also time for the country to have a national forensics service. The Philippines needs these)," Tutor said.
She said the consultations would include experts in the Philippines, as well as those from Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia and the United States.
While the proposed laws are still in the works, Tutor said there is a need to increase the number of forensic pathologists in the country.
Tutor said the Pathology department ng the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and the chemistry, biology, and physics departments of UP Manila and Dilima can start working on improving the country’s forensics capabilities.
“Maaari itong pondohan sa 2024 budget kung ang (The proposed 2024 budget could fund this endeavor if the) University of the Philippines ay sang-ayon dito (would agree to it)," she said.
Tutor said she envisions a forensic profession with at least three columns for medical pathology, financial forensics, and digital forensics. (PNA)
