THE Philippine justice system is set to get a significant boost with new forensic equipment donated by Japan, according to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

“At first glance, handing over autopsy instruments can feel like a clinical moment,” Bersamin said in a statement. “Yet this simple act is charged with compassion: It affirms that every life, no matter how brief, deserves respect, and that even in loss, we are committed to honoring dignity, comforting those who grieve, and uncovering the truth.”

He added that the donation was more than a technical upgrade and was aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s governance agenda of transparency, accountability and respect for human dignity.

The donation from the Institutional Investigation of Custodial Deaths Project of Japan, which includes mortuary refrigerators, autopsy carts, and body scales, was formally turned over to the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) on Wednesday., This news data comes from:http://gatw-gxxw-mqa-fngw.052298.com

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) facilitated the handover by the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines.

This initiative supports the ongoing establishment of the National Forensics Institute (NFI), a global pledge made by the Philippines at the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, in December 2023.

Japan gives Philippine justice system a boost

Bersamin cited a July 2024 declaration of cooperation signed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), UPM, and UNODC to strengthen investigations into custodial deaths.

Japan gives Philippine justice system a boost

Under the agreement, the remains of persons deprived of liberty from Bureau of Corrections facilities in Metro Manila will be brought to UPM for independent forensic examination.

He also noted how synergistic collaboration among government agencies, the academe, and international partners is fast-tracking the establishment of the NFI.

“This is a moral commitment to uphold the prompt reporting and independent investigation of custodial deaths,” Bersamin said.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo said the donation, the first from Japan for the NFI establishment, would further support the government’s efforts to strengthen the forensic capabilities of law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities.

UPM Chancellor Michael Tee said the equipment would boost the university’s forensic pathology facilities and training programs, while UP President Angelo Jimenez reaffirmed the university’s role as the NFI’s academic backbone.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, co-chairman of the NFI Technical Working Group, said the donation was more than technology but a lifeline for truth.

“It is a way to ensure that every person deprived of liberty, regardless of their circumstances, is treated with dignity, and that any loss of life is examined with transparency, accountability, and care,” Remulla said in his remarks delivered by Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco.

Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. highlighted reforms in prison facilities and stressed the need for transparency in handling custodial deaths.

UNODC Philippines Country Head Daniele Marchesi said the government’s openness had made cooperation on forensic standards effective, while UPM forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun expressed hope the NFI would expand beyond custodial deaths to broader death investigations.

The NFI Technical Working Group is co-chaired by the Office of the Executive Secretary and the DOJ, with members from several agencies, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Budget and Management, Commission on Higher Education, UPM, and the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat.