The creation of the National Forensics Institute (NFI) is a major breakthrough in solving crimes through accurate and science-based forensic results, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla said.

“Dito (NFI), sigurado na kung bakit, sigurado na kung anong kinamatay, at sigurado na rin yung mga scientific evidence para sa convictions or acquittal ng mga suspects natin (In here, it is assured why, sure about the cause of death and the scientific evidence are in place for the conviction or acquittal of our suspects),’’ Remulla said.

During the recent NFI launch at the University of the Philippines- Manila, Remulla noted that the creation of the NFI fulfills one of the Philippine government’s pledges during the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights held in Geneva in Dec. 2023. 

The first of its kind in the country, the NFI was initiated through Administrative Order No. 29 issued by President Marcos

Remulla said that the order created a technical working group (TWG) to oversee the establishment of the institute. 

The TWG is chaired by the Office of the Executive Secretary and includes members from the DILG, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Foreign affairs (DFA), UP Manila, among others.

UP president Angelo Jimenez explained that the NFI will train and produce more forensic medicine experts, build the capacity of law enforcement to conduct science-based investigations, and promote a justice system grounded in human rights, transparency, and accountability.

“Dr. Raquel Fortun and Dr. Cecilia Lim, the only two forensic pathologists in the country, will serve as core faculty members alongside experts from UP and Monash University under the Master of Science in Forensic Medicine Program,’’ the DILG continued.