Once more, we are being treated to another spectacle, this time of the search for the cockfight aficionados (sabungeros) allegedly abducted and disappeared some years ago, who, according to an informant, were killed and dumped into Taal Lake.

So far, Coast Guard divers have recovered five sacks containing alleged human bones from the spots where the bodies were said to be deposited, with the evidence now displayed on social media. Naturally, there were insinuations that these were fake, planted and so on.

However, to prove that these bones belonged to the missing sabungeros will not be that easy. It requires skills in several forensic sciences such as forensic pathology, forensic dentistry, forensic radiology, forensic anthropology and, if applicable, DNA testing and relating these bones to the nearest of kin, namely parents, children or siblings. There is no guarantee that there will be good quality DNA of usable quantity to perform testing on, considering these bones were submerged for a longtime in water which could have degraded DNA quality.

Therein lies the rub, as discussed in my previous column (Sad State of Forensics, Oct. 9, 2023), which laments the dearth of forensic scientists in these fields and more. If these cases were brought to court, the persons presented as expert witnesses in these fields who examined the bones better be prepared for a thorough grilling by the defense lawyers, or their testimony about the bones may end up being dismissed as not performed by bona fide experts.

Fortunately, there is hope for the future. The University of the Philippines Manila has recently launched the National Forensics Institute with a groundbreaking ceremony of its building next to the College of Medicine. It is but fitting for it to be on that site since the only two real forensic pathologists are part of the faculty of the Department of Pathology.

The UP Manila has partnered with the Monash University of Melbourne to come up with a Masters in Forensic Medicine program for eligible medical graduates. I happened to visit my alma mater recently and met three of the Australians who will make up part of the faculty of the masteral program. They will augment the two beleaguered forensic pathologists, Drs. Raquel Fortun and Maria Cecilia Lim, in their lonely battles against crime using scientific methods.

The new postgraduate program will apply the Monash University’s forensic courses to the Philippine setting where death investigations leave much to be desired, and enable a systematic approach to personal identification during disasters as well as crime victims.

This development was given a boost with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., signing an executive order creating a Technical Working Group for the establishment of a National Forensics Institute last January. This was an offshoot of the government’s promise to the UNHR to enhance domestic accountability in establishing a forensic science institute.

Regardless of the building construction, the Masters program is set to start next month. The course will initially be housed in the Department of Pathology. Ideally, the Institute should have its own building that will accommodate the Masters program, with DNA testing and toxicology laboratories, autopsy rooms, X-rays, CT scans, and for forensic anthropology courses requiring identification of skeletal remains among others. Initial funding for the scholarship is coming from the Australian embassy.

With this development, hopefully, the sabungeros death investigation will progress well, if the PNP will approach UP Manila for assistance in identification of these skeletal remains. It ought to take advantage of the presence of Australian forensic experts and the only two forensic pathologists in the country.

Regardless of the outcome of these investigations, what matters is that scientific forensic methods are applied with credible and conclusive results. That will be a refreshing change from the current slapdash approach to criminal investigations that end up being discarded in court due to lethal infirmities brought about by lack of training in criminal investigations.

The families of the missing sabungeros are entitled to closure of their loved ones’ disappearances, whether they are victims of extrajudicial killings or not.

The results of the investigations ought to be robust and should stand up in court, or justice will not be served.

Senate Bill 694 seeks to establish the National Forensic Science Institute, which unfortunately, is still a bill pending in the Committee on Science and Technology. The bill, among other provisions, seeks to provide an initial funding of ₱300 million for this purpose. Without an enabling law providing funding, it is unclear where the funds for the construction of the National Forensic Institute building will come from.

With what’s going on in Congress nowadays, it may languish for a while in limbo. Hopefully, the 20th Congress will deem it important enough for to enact into law.

Time to pass Senate Bill 694! Justice the sabungeros!