ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider UP launches National Forensics Institute, backs justice system reforms

UP launches National Forensics Institute, backs justice system reforms

UP Manila to offer first MS in Forensic Medicine in Philippines; ties up with Australian government, Monash University

Published Jun 19, 2025 02:31 pm
(UP Manila Facebook page)
(UP Manila Facebook page)

The University of the Philippines (UP) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing reforms in the Philippine justice system with the launch of the National Forensics Institute (NFI).
During the launch on June 18 at UP Manila, UP President Angelo Jimenez described the initiative as a “national imperative,” emphasizing the need to elevate the country’s capabilities in forensic medicine to support justice and human rights.
“This is more than an academic endeavor; this is a national imperative to strengthen our justice system and elevate the country’s expertise in forensic medicine,” said Jimenez.
The NFI is a collaborative project involving key government agencies and international partners.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin led the launch, joined by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu, Monash University Senior Vice President Craig Jeffrey, and UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee.
Chancellor Tee emphasized UP Manila’s role in fulfilling the country’s commitment to forensic and justice reform. “The Master of Science in Forensic Medicine is our initial contribution to this national effort,” he said.
UP Manila is part of the Technical Working Group (TWG) tasked with establishing the NFI under Administrative Order No. 29, signed by President Marcos in January 2025.
The TWG also includes the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat.
As part of this initiative, UP Manila signed a memorandum of understanding with Monash University of Australia on October 24, 2024.
The two institutions jointly developed the new Master of Science in Forensic Medicine program, which is co-funded by the Australian government.
The proposed program was approved by the UP Manila University Council on June 16, 2025, and is currently awaiting final approval from the UP Board of Regents.
It is set to be offered starting the first semester of Academic Year 2025–2026.
The program will be taught by top experts in the field, including the country’s only two forensic pathologists — Dr. Raquel Fortun and Dr. Cecilia Lim — as well as UP faculty members specializing in anthropology, toxicology, and law.
Jimenez said the program aims to address the country’s critical shortage of forensic medicine professionals, support science-based law enforcement practices aligned with international protocols such as the Minnesota Protocol, and promote a justice system grounded in transparency and human rights.
“We look forward to shaping the minds and character of the next generation of forensic scientists — mga Iskolar ng Bayan na magsisilbi nang may integridad, at magtatanggol ng karapatang pantao nang may husay at dangal, tungo sa ating hangad na Bagong Pilipinas (scholars of the people who will serve with integrity, defend human rights with excellence and dignity, and help realize our vision of a Bagong Pilipinas),” he said.
The establishment of the NFI is one of the Philippine government’s commitments made during the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Geneva on December 10, 2023, and reaffirmed with the conclusion of the UN Joint Programme on Human Rights in July 2024.

Related Tags

UP National Forensics Institute UP Manila Forensic Medicine MS Forensic Medicine Philippines Angelo Jimenez UP Philippine justice reform forensic science education Monash University Philippines partnership Dr. Raquel Fortun human rights Philippines Minnesota Protocol Bagong Pilipinas
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.