EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
'(JEfi-rr cf r;*'
S E N V
 i^c- 
s. No. 
^ - io
Introduced by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela^oj
•19 
JUL 16 A 9-.05
1=
osa
AN ACT
MODERNIZING THE CRIME INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES OF 
LAW 
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
During the course of history, law enforcement agencies have implemented and 
resorted to different approach and strategies to determine the authors of the crime 
committed. These strategies are significant in the maintenance of peace order in our 
society and administration of justice.
Criminal investigation procedures has evolved since the mere use of interview 
of possible witnesses to the use of forensic science such as DNA matching. In the 
Philippines, when a person is suspected of discharging a firearm, our go to procedure 
is to conduct paraffin testing. However, as declared by the Supreme Court in its 
numerous decisions, scientific experts concur in the view that the paraffin test has 
proved extremely unreliable in use.
Those obsolete crime investigation techniques such as paraffin test should not 
be used as it puts our crime investigators in a bad light. As such, the proposed 
measure seeks to ensure that our law enforcements agents will have access to modern 
crime investigation techniques.
Similar proposal was filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the 
Sixteenth Congress.
In light of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
RONALD"
ELA ROSA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
~ . i I.
c, •' lOfi ic p [i . i' r
-]9 
j UL 16 
f l9 ^)5
No. 
o lO
RliCEIV -D * l 1J\
Introduced by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa'
AN ACT
MODERNIZING THE CRIME 
INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES OF 
LAW 
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Tide. -T h is  Act shall be known as the "Crime Investigation
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Modernization Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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actively promote, induce and accelerate a sound and modern procedure in crime
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investigation.
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Sec. 3. Principles and Standards in Crime Investigation. -  All law enforcement
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agencies shall be guided by the following principles and standards in conducting their
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investigations:
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(l)T h e  Constitutional rights of all persons shall be respected at all times.
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Toward this end, obsolete and unreliable crime investigation methods, such
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as paraffin testing, shall be phased out;
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(2) One of the most important aspects of securing the crime scene is to
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preserve the scene with minimal contamination and disturbance or physical
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evidence. The initial response to an incident shall be expeditious and
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methodical. Upon arrival, the officer shall assess the scene and treat the
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incident as a crime scene;
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(a) The initial responding officers shall ensure that medical attention Is


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provided with minimal contamination of the scene;
(b) The initial responding officers at the scene shall provide a detailed 
crime scene briefing to the investigators in charge of the scene;
(c) Controlling, identifying, and removing persons at the crime scene and 
limiting the number of persons who enter the crime scene and the 
movement of such persons is an important function of the initial 
responding officers in protecting the crime scene;
(d) The investigators in charge shall identify specific responsibilities, 
share preliminary information, and develop investigative plans in 
accordance with departmental policy, focal, and national laws.
(e) The investigators in charge shall ensure documentation of the scene 
using photos, videos, sketches, measurements and notes, among 
others;
(f) The investigators must prioritize the collection of evidence to prevent 
loss, destruction, or contamination; and
(g) The investigators in charge shall direct another walk-through at the 
conclusion of the scene investigation and ensure that the scene 
investigation is complete;
(3 ) The safety and physical well-being of officers and other individuals, in and 
around the crime scene, are the initial responding officers' priority;
(4) Defining and controlling the boundaries provide a means for protecting and 
securing the crime scene;
(5) All activities conducted and observations made at the crime scene must be 
documented as soon as possible after the event to preserve information;
(6) Contamination control and prevention of cross-contamination at single or 
multiple scenes is essential to maintain the safety of personnel and the 
integrity of evidence;
(7) Evidence at crime scene that is in the process of documentation, collection, 
preservation, or packaging should be handled with attention to scene 
integrity and protection from contamination or deleterious change. During 
the processing of the scene, and following documentation, evidence should 
be appropriately packaged, labeled, and maintained in a secure, temporary


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manner until final packaging and submission to a secured evidence storage
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facility or the crime laboratory;
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(8) Law enforcement personnel and other responders shall participate in or
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initiate a crime scene debriefing to ensure the crime scene investigation is
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complete and to verify post-scene responsibilities; and
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(9) Reports and 
other documentation 
pertaining 
to the crime scene
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investigation shall be compiled into a case file by the investigators in charge
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of the crime scene. This file shall be a record of the actions taken and
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evidence collected at the scene. This documentation shall allow for
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independent review of the work conducted.
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Sec. 4. Creation o f the Crime Investigation Modernization Committee (CIMC).
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-  The Crime Investigation Modernization Committee (CIMC) is hereby established and
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shall be composed of the following:
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(1) Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government as
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Chairperson;
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(2) Chief of the Philippine National Police;
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(3) Director of the National Bureau of Investigation;
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(4) Two (2) experts in forensic science to be appointed by the President.
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Sec. 5. Duties o f the CIMC. -  The CIMC shall have the following duties and
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responsibilities:
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(1) Conduct a study on the modern methods of criminal investigation and their
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applicability to the Philippines;
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(2) Create a manual for law enforcement officers according to the standards
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enumerated under Section 3 of this Act. This Manuai shall serve as the basic
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requirement in all subsequent criminal investigations. It shall be the
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responsibility of the CIMC to train the members of all law enforcement
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agencies according to the procedures outlined by the manual;
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(3) Engage in dialogues with foreign police agencies on possible sharing and
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transfer of technology in forensic investigation;
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(4) Within three (3) years after the creation of CIMC, it shall submit a report to
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Congress on the costs and ways of implementing a comprehensive program


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on modernization of crime investigation;
(5 ) Compiete a study on the feasibility of creating a course on Forensic Science 
in State Universities and Colleges to be submitted to Congress within two 
(2) years after the creation of CIMC; and
(6) Send scholars abroad for training in forensic science and related fields; Any 
person who shall be granted educational scholarship or training shall sail be 
required to render government service for at least three (3) years after 
completion of their study or training subject to existing laws;
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
Sec. 8. Repeating Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules 
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 9. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,