POLICE LINE DO NOT ENTER dd POLICE LINE DO NOT E

DEFINITION OF TERMS
 Scene of Crime Operation – is a forensic procedure
performed by trained personnel of the PNP Crime
Laboratory through scientific methods of investigation for
the purpose of preserving the crime scene, gathering
information, documentation, collection, and examination of
all physical evidence.
 Crime Scene Investigation – It is the conduct of
processes, more particularly the recognition, search,
collection, handling, preservation and documentation of
physical evidence to include the identification of witnesses
and the arrest of suspect/s at the crime scene.
Crime Scene- is the place from which most physical
evidence associated with crime will be obtained.
 Physical Evidence – Encompasses any and all objects that
can establish that a crime has been committed or can
provide a link between a crime and its victim or a crime and
its perpetrator.
 Forensic Science – Is the application of science to a law.
 Legal Authority in Conducting SOCO

1. Chapter 3, Section 24, paragraph c and Section

35 of RA 6975 as amended by RA 8551.
2. NAPOLCOM Resolution Nr 96-058 in 1996.
3. PNP CLSO # 01-95 dtd November 16, 1995
4. RA 9165 The Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act
of 2003.
5. Rule 13 Special “Procedures” of PNP Operational
Procedures.
6. CL Circular Number - 01-08 dtd May 1, 2008
 Legal Implication
1. PD No. 1829 (Jan 16,1981) – Decree Penalizing
Obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of
criminal offenders. (Prision Correctional-6mos 1day to 6
yrs/fine ranging from P1,000-P6,000)

- If committed by a public official or employee he shall in addition to

penalties provided shall suffer perpetual disqualification from
holding public office

2. Administrative case of Grave Misconduct, Serious

Irregularities in the performance of duties or
Dishonesty

3. Motu proprio Investigation of IAS under Sec 39 (c) RA

8551 – When evidence was compromised, tampered
with, obliterated, or lost while in the custody of police
personnel.

4. Dismissal of the case by reason of Technicality

FUNCTION/CAPABILITIES
1.MEDICO LEGAL EXAMINATION
2.FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
3.FORENSIC DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
4.FORENSIC PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION THRU DACTYLOSCOPY OR
EXAMINATION AND IDENTIFICATION
5.BALLISTICS EXAMINATION AND IDENTIFICATION
6.FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
7.POLYGRAPH OR LIE DETECTOR TEST
8.COMPOSITE CRIMINAL ILLUSTRATION
9.SCENE OF CRIME PROCESSING OR OPERATION (SOCO)
10.DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA) TESTING
11.EXPERT TESTIMONY IN COURT
12.FORENSIC RESEARCH AND TRAINING
Duties of the First Responder at the Crime Scene:
1. Evacuate injured person to the nearest hospital.
2. Cordon off the crime scene with whatever materials like
ropes, straws, human barricade, police line if available.
3. Prepare to take dying declaration of severely injured person.
4. Prevent entry of unauthorized persons within the cordoned
area.
5. Report to the nearest police station.
6. Prepare to brief the investigators of the situation upon their
arrival.

Other Considerations:
1. Recording of pertinent information such as time, date and
place of incident, weather condition, names and addresses of
witnesses.
2. Note the position of the victim upon arrival/discovery of the
victim.
 First Responder’s responsibility

1. identify and retain questioning the person who

first notified
2. determine the perpetrator by direct inquiry or
observation if identity is not immediately
apparent
3. retain (if possible) all persons at the scene
4. separate all witnesses so that independent
statements can be obtained later.
5. prevent unauthorized persons from entering
the crime scene or disturbing it in any manner
 Entering the Crime Scene

Refrain, unless for the following limited

purposes:
1. Determine that a crime was committed
2. Aide the victim – (a victim’s care takes
precedence over evidence
consideration)
3. To apprehend the perpetrator
4. To secure the crime scene
 Theory of transfer

“When two objects come into contact, there will

be a frequent transfer of small amounts of
material from one to the other. Thus, when
suspects come in contact with the victim and
objects at the crime scene, they frequently leave
behind traces of themselves and take with them
traces of any objects touched. This also applies to
police officers and crime scene specialists”.
 Locard’s Law or Principle

Locard’s Principle
summarizes the two way
transfer of trace evidence as:

 When A comes into contact with B,

something from A is transferred to B and
vice versa.
(every contact leaves a trace)
 Necessary Preservation Materials for
First Responders:

1. Gloves
2. Face Mask
3. Preservation line
4. Chalk/yellow chain/nylon
cord/straw
5. Camera
6. Pen
7. Note Pad
8. Hair net
9. Foot Cover
TYPES OF CRIME SCENE
As to location:
1. Indoor Crime Scene
2. Outdoor Crime Scene
- open locations including crime scene
inside the vehicle, airship and vessel.
3. Continuing/Running Crime Scene
- mixed location from indoor to
outdoor or vice-versa, or continuing
outdoor alone, or from one place to
another of the same jurisdiction, or
from one place crossing to another
area of jurisdiction.
As to time of Commission:

4. Day Time Crime Scene

- From sunrise to sunset
5. Night Crime Scene
- From sunset to sunrise.
Processing in this type of crime scene
can be extended until day time to ensure
proper collection of physical evidence.
Two types of Responses

1. Scene of Crime Operations

(SOCO)

2. Field Laboratory Works

 A.SIGNIFICANT CASES FOR SOCO
RESPONSES

 - Bombing incident
 - CT initiated terrorist activities Raid,
ambuscade, liquidation
 - KFR case
 - Armed Robbery of Banks and other
Financial institution
 - Calamity/Disaster
 - Massacre
 - Heinous crimes (as the law defines)
Murder, Homicide, Arson, Rape with Homicide
 B. SENSATIONAL CASES FOR SOCO
RESPONSES– if any of the following are
victims or perpetrators of crime;

 - Elected Public Officials (Brgy Captain

up to President of the RP)
 - Appointed public officials with the
rank of commissioner, secretary, and
undersecretary
 - Foreign diplomat
 - Any Foreigner
 - PNP/AFP personnel
 - Ex-high ranking government officials
 - Other prominent figures such as movie
stars, sports stars, Tri-media practitioners,
prominent businessman, professionals, and
prominent leaders of religious organization
 OTHER SOCO RESPONSES
• Collection of paint fragments, hairs, fibers and
glass fractures at the crime scene in cases of
vehicular accidents, robbery in car and/or
carnapping.
• Collection of ashes and debris in relation to arson
cases.
• Bullet trajectory examination of motor vehicles at
the crime scene or other objects involved in
shooting incidents.
• Lifting of latent prints in relation to simple theft
and robbery cases.
• Collection of physical evidence at the crime scene
in relation to bombing incidents.
• Casting and molding of tool marks, tire marks,
footmarks and footwear impressions at the crime
 Field Laboratory Works
(FLW)
Macro-etching examination on
defective/tampered chassis/engine numbers of
motor vehicles at the compound of the
requesting party.
Conduct autopsy at the PNP accredited funeral
parlor.
Conduct document examination in the place of
the requesting party.
Photographing of evidence related to document
examination cases and other forensic fields
where physical evidence could not be removed
or brought out of the office.
Polygraph examination at the office of the
Field Laboratory Works (FLW)
6. Withdrawal of fired bullet embedded in the
body of the car or in the wall of a building after
the crime.
7. Exhumation of cadavers to determine the
cause of death.
8. Fingerprint examination in the place of the
requesting unit.
9. Examination of fake products in cases of unfair
trade competition in the office of the
requesting party.
10.Paraffin examination of suspects and victims
of shooting incidents who are confined in
hospitals or in the office of the investigating
unit.
11.Conduct of drug test in private or government
 Requirements for SOCO
Assistance
1. Written SOCO request from all
investigation units, except on urgent
cases, duly signed by the head of office
or any authorized officer.
2. On urgent cases, a formal request for
SOCO assistance must be submitted by
the investigating units concerned a day
after the SOCO activity, so as not to
delay the preparation of reports
especially on heinous crimes and
sensational cases.
 SOCO Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs)
1. Verbal or written request must include the cardinal
points (5Ws and 1H).

2. SOCO Team must respond to eventualities not

covered by request on cases when thru TV or radio
broadcast and other reliable sources of
information, a heinous or sensational crime took
place within the AOR and when concerned citizen
reported such.

3. The responding SOCO Team Leader must take full

control of the crime scene after coordination has
been made with officer-on-case and while the
crime scene processing is on going until such time
that the crime scene has been released back to the
officer-on cases.
 SOCO Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs)
4. The officer-on-case should not allow anybody
to enter the police line that is securing the
crime scene except the SOCO team members.
5. The officer-on-case must sign the SOCO
coordination slip and must witness the
documentation of recovered pieces of evidence
submitted to the evidence custodian by the
SOCO specialists.
6. All SOCO personnel and criminal investigators
who do not act in accordance with the
established SOCO procedure or violate the
SOCO SOP will be subjected to investigation in
relation to the filing of appropriate charges
SOCO TEAM ORGANIZATION
1. SOCO Team Leader
2. Photographer and Photographic Log Recorder
3. Sketcher
4. Evidence Log Recorder/Custodian
5. Driver/Security
6. Evidence Processor/Collector
7. Specialists (as required)
a. Medical Examiner
b. Odonthologist
c. Engineer
d. Bomb Technician
e. Crime Laboratory Examiner
i. Fingerprint Examiner
ii. Firearms Examiner
iii. Forensic Chemist
iv. Polygraph Examiner
v. Document Examiner
Major Incident Response with
Augmentation from NHQCL
Conduct of Briefing After
Preliminary Survey
Post Processing Shot
 Exercise I
 Read and tell me how many letter
“F”can you see in this statement in 15
seconds.

 “FINISHED
FILES ARE THE RESULT OF
YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED
WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE”
Classification of Physical Evidence
A. Body Fluids D. Fingerprints
1. Blood 1. On absorbent materials
2. Saliva 2. On hard objects
3. Semen 3. On skin
4. Sweat 4. On other surfaces like
5. Urine firearms, glass, bottles
6. Vaginal Fluid E. Firearms & Ammunition
B. Explosive & Incendiaries 1. Gunshot Residue
1. Arson Debris (glass wood, 2. Small Firearms
fabrics, foreign objects, 3. Serial Numbers
suspected flammable substance) 4. Shoulder Weapons
2. Explosive Debris 5. Fired cartridge cases
3. Explosive substance & devises. 6. Fired paper shot shells
C. Fabrics 7. Shot wads
1. Large Articles (mattress) 8. Shot pellets
2. Small Articles (fabrics on victims
mouth, feet or hands).
F. Food & Drug Specimen K. Metals
1. Liquids 1. Filings
2. Plant materials 2. Fragments (in form of
3. Powder or solids bullet fragments, grill
4. Tablets & capsules work, headlight)
G. Glass 3. Large Sections (frames,
1. Large fragments dies, etc, maybe
2. Small fragments embedded on the floors
H. Hair & Fibers or walls).
1. On individuals L. Paint
2. On other surfaces 1. Chips & smudges on
I. Impressions little materials, on big or
1. Footprints non- movable materials,
2. Tire prints on cloth, wood, metal
3. Tool marks or glass.
4. Bite marks 2. Liquids
J. Liquids & Viscous M. Questioned Documents
Substance 1. Burned
2. Fluid or Blood Soak
N. Soil
1. Cake Mud
2. Dry Soil
3. Mud

O. Miscellaneous Evidence
> Like cigarette buts, jewelry, matches, spoon or fork,
syringe, broken fingernails, magnetic tape, recording or
writing instruments, tapes that can link a person to a
crime scene.
CONCLUSION

If all these pieces of evidence are

properly collected, handled and
preserved then the conduct of forensic
examination will provide the much
needed information that may lead to the
identification of the suspect/s in a
criminal case.

Thus, proper processing of evidence at

the crime scene would lead to the
conviction of the perpetrator of the
crime.
 CRIME SCENE  Save and Preserve life.
 Provide emergency first aid for those
INVESTIGATION injured at the scene.
 Prepare to take the “Dying Declaration”
of severely injured person if any.
Report of Incident  Arrest, detain, and remove any suspect
to Police Unit present if more than one (1) isolate.
 Cordon the area to secure and preserve
the crime scene.
 Prevent entry of persons into the
First Responders proceed cordoned area.
to the Crime Scene  Conduct preliminary interview of
witnesses to determine what and how
crime was committed.
 Prepare to brief the investigators of the
situation upon their arrival.
Investigator-on-Case
 Conduct assessment of the crime
arrive at the crime scene
scene
Investigator-on-Case  Investigate the Incident
request for SOCO Assistance

Investigator-on-Case Turn-over
Crime Scene to SOCO  Evaluate Evidences at the Crime
Scene
 Documentation
Conduct of SOCO by (Photographs and Sketches)
 Collection / handling of
Crime Laboratory Evidences
 Custody and Transport of
Evidences
Release of Crime Scene
To Investigator-on-Case
 PROCESSING THE CRIME SCENE
The SOCO Process
Receipt of Receipt of Request for
Report/Complaint by SOCO Assistance from
Investigating Unit Investigating Unit General SOCO Procedure
1. Preparation prior to the conduct of SOCO.
Crime Scene Processing 2. Crime Scene approach.
3. Preliminary Survey.

Forensic Lab Exam by Crime Lab 4. Evaluation of Physical Evidence.

Experts 5. Narrative Description of the Crime Scene.
6. Crime Scene Photography/Videography.
Requesting Unit 7. Sketch of the Crime Scene.
8. Detailed Crime Scene Search.
9. Physical Evidence Recording & Collection.
Office of the Prosecutor
10. Final Crime Scene Survey.
11. Turn-over/Release of Crime Scene to
Court Investigator-on-case.
 Crime Scene Investigation
Proper
 1. Receipt of briefing and designation of
command post.
 2. Initiation of preliminary survey.
 3. Preparation of narrative report.
 4. Documentation of the crime scene.
 5. Crime scene sketches.
 6. Detailed search.
 7. Collection of physical evidence.
 8. Conduct of final survey.
 9. Release of the crime scene.
 ISSUES AND CONCERNS

1. SOCO Team determines the “Crime Scene” not the

police investigators
2. SOCO Team should only pull-out from a crime
scene if it has completed the processing
3. All pieces of evidence collected by the SOCO
Team should be secured and brought back to the
concerned Crime Laboratory Office
4. SOCO Team which has territorial jurisdiction over
the crime scene shall manage the operation.
Augmentation SOCO Teams shall turn-over all
pieces of evidence to said team
5. Response time
6. Integrity