Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. AND 
HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure aims to improve the access of our law enforcement agents to 
modern crime investigation techniques for the better administration of justice. 
Crime investigation procedures have come a long way. There was a time when we relied 
heavily on paraffin testing to investigate persons suspected of discharging a firearm. This 
was already decided by the Supreme Court as unreliable. The continued use of obsolete 
techniques is making it difficult for the public to trust ongoing investigations. 
The science of criminal investigations should also change to keep up with the rapid pace 
of modern life, heavy reliance on computers and technology for a wide array of 
transaction. Keeping up with strategies is significant in the maintenance of peace order 
in our society and administration of justice. 
In light of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
May 9, 2023
8:00 am
7975


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. AND 
HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
AN ACT 
MODERNIZING THE CRIME INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES OF LAW 
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Crime Investigation 
Modernization Act." 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to actively 
promote, induce and accelerate a sound and modern procedure in crime investigation. 
Sec. 3. Principles and Standards in Crime Investigation. – All law enforcement 
agencies shall be guided by the following principles and standards in conducting their 
investigations: 
(1) The Constitutional rights of all persons shall be respected at all times. Toward this 
end, obsolete and unreliable crime investigation methods, such as paraffin testing, 
shall be phased out; 
(2) One of the most important aspects of securing the crime scene is to preserve the 
scene with minimal contamination and disturbance or physical evidence. The initial 
response to an incident shall be expeditious and methodical. Upon arrival, the 
officer shall assess the scene and treat the incident as a crime scene; 
7975


 
 
(a) The initial responding officers shall ensure that medical attention is 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 manner until final packaging and 
submission to a secured evidence storage facility or the crime laboratory; 


 
 
(8) Law enforcement personnel and other responders shall participate in or initiate a 
crime scene debriefing to ensure the crime scene investigation is complete and to 
verify post-scene responsibilities; and 
(9) Reports and other documentation pertaining to the crime scene investigation shall be 
compiled into a case file by the investigators in charge of the crime scene. This file 
shall be a record of the actions taken and evidence collected at the scene. This 
documentation shall allow for independent review of the work conducted. 
 
Sec. 4. Creation of the Crime Investigation Modernization Committee (CIMC). – The 
Crime Investigation Modernization Committee (CIMC) is hereby established and shall be 
composed of the following: 
(1) 
Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government as Chairperson; 
(2) 
Chief of the Philippine National Police; 
(3) 
Director of the National Bureau of Investigation; 
(4) 
Two (2) experts in forensic science to be appointed by the President. 
 
Sec. 5. Duties of the CIMC. – The CIMC shall have the following duties and 
responsibilities: 
(1) Conduct a study on the modern methods of criminal investigation and their 
applicability to the Philippines; 
(2) Create a manual for law enforcement officers according to the standards 
enumerated under Section 3 of this Act. This Manual shall serve as the basic 
requirement in all subsequent criminal investigations. It shall be the responsibility of 
the CIMC to train the members of all law enforcement agencies according to the 
procedures outlined by the manual; 
(3) Engage in dialogues with foreign police agencies on possible sharing and transfer of 
technology in forensic investigation; 
(4) Within three (3) years after the creation of CIMC, it shall submit a report to Congress 
on the costs and ways of implementing a comprehensive program on 
modernization of crime investigation; 
(5) Complete 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. 6. 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. 7. Repealing 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. 8. 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,