IMPROVING forensics in crime investigations is one way, according to two ranking lawmakers, to fight hazing and cybercrime.
House Civil Service and Professional Regulation Chairperson Rep. Alexie B. Tutor said it is time for fields of forensics to have its own profession law and for the establishment of a national forensics service.
“Kailangan nating palakasin ang forensics profession. Una, habang pending ang panukalang batas, mainam na paramihin ang mga certified sa forensic investigation at autopsy. Maaaring simulan ito ng Pathology Department ng UP-PGH at ng chemistry, biology, at physics departments ng UP Manila at UP Diliman. Maaari itong pondohan sa 2024 budget kung sang-ayon dito ang University of the Philippines,” Tutor explained.
“Kokonsultahin ko ang mga medical experts at scientists upang maging tama ang pagkakabalangkas ng mga panukalang batas. Our consultations will also endeavor to include the experts here in the Philippines and experts in the forensic services of Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia, and the United States,” Tutor said.
House health committee vice chair Rep. Angelica Natasha Co said the Department of Health and Department of Justice should have a joint memorandum “to make sure autopsies are properly conducted and autopsy reports are properly and ethically written.”
“Madalas sa mga hazing cases nagkakatalo sa autopsy o medico-legal findings at ng mga medical abstract. Depende kasi yan sa pagkakasulat ng findings at pagkagawa ng mismong autopsy. Kailangang magsagawa ng intensive training on hazing cases ang mga ospital at mga doctor, lalo na sa Metro Manila, Calabarzon, at mga lungsod,” Rep. Co explained.
“There is also the delicate matter of the involvement of funeral parlors and embalmers. Quite often evidence is either lost, degraded, or tampered during the embalming process. The embalming process and embalmers should be strictly regulated and monitored. This is another matter for the DOJ and DOH to jointly regulate. The police should have no role in regulating and monitoring the funeral parlors and embalmers,” Congresswoman Co added.
Congresswoman Co also said, “hospital protocols should include security procedures that will quickly kick in when hazing victims are brought to hospitals and clinics.”
She also pointed out that “sometimes the hazing conspirators include nursing, medtech or medicine students who serve as first aiders and observers during hazing rites. The Commission on Higher Education should work with the health profession colleges on ethics measures to prevent hazing and put in place safeguards on the involvement of these nursing, medtech or medicine students in hazing.”
“Dapat ring magkaroon ng special security protocols ang mga ospital at Philippine Medical Association kapag nakakatanggap sila ng mga pasyenteng malamang naging biktima ng hazing. Pangunahan dapat ito ng Department of Health.
National Forensics Service
“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,” Congresswoman Tutor said.
Rep. Tutor also said she prefers that the National Forensics Service “be placed under the Department of Science and Technology to ensure its professional and operational independence and scientific objectivity.”
“I envision a forensic profession with initially at least three columns with two tiers each. One column for medical pathology, one column for financial forensics, and another for digital forensics. We can add more specialization columns later on, but these three specialties are what we urgently need. The two-tier structure can follow what the engineering and related professions have now,” the House chairperson of civil service and professional regulation said.
Tutor also said the professions law on forensics will be “aligned with the updated and new professions laws Congress has approved into law.”
REP. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR
Bohol 3rd District
Chair, Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation
Member, Committee on Information & Communication Technology
REP. ANGELICA NATASHA CO
BHW Party-list
Chair, Committee on Welfare of Children
Vice-Chair, Committee on Health