The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) favored the establishment of a Forensic Institute in the country to increase the number of forensic pathologists who can help law enforcers in solving crimes and addressing human rights violations.

Supported by the CHR was the passage of Senate Bill (SB) No. 694, the proposed Forensic Science Institute Act, which was filed by Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

SB 694 seeks the setting up of a Forensic Science Institute in the University of the Philippines (UP). The institute would be composed of highly qualified and trained experts from various disciplines, and operating separately from law enforcement units. 

“The establishment of a Forensic Science Institute is a crucial step in enhancing our country’s forensic capabilities, ensuring that investigations are guided by science, impartiality, and adherence to human rights standards,” CHR Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc said in a statement.

The CHR said the Senate bill also seeks to upgrade the country’s forensic science capabilities, encourage more professionals and scientists to pursue a career in forensic science, and improve the administration of justice through enhanced evidence collection, examination, analysis, and presentation of forensic findings in legal proceedings.

It lamented the "scarcity" of forensic pathologists in the country. With few forensic pathologists, many victims of human rights violations, particularly extrajudicial killings, are left without closure and perpetrators remain unaccountable, it said.

In 2024, the CHR issued a position paper supporting the proposed bill, stressing that forensic reform is crucial in upholding both domestic and international human rights standards.

It recommended that the Forensic Institute remain an independent establishment, which would safeguard it from political and law enforcement pressures. 

It likewise recommended capacity-building initiatives, stronger integration of human rights safeguards in forensic investigations, specialization in forensic medicine, and legislative prioritization and its inclusion into the National Human Rights Action Plan.

“To truly serve the ends of justice, forensic services must be accessible not only to law enforcement but also to independent human rights bodies and judicial institutions,” Palpal-latoc said. 

“By fostering inter-agency coordination, we can ensure that forensic science remains a tool for truth, accountability, and transparency,” he pointed out.