UP Manila gets P2.2M forensic gear from Japan, UNODC

The University of the Philippines Manila received P2.2 million worth of forensic equipment from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), funded by the Ministry of Japan, to enhance autopsies for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

The donation includes a mortuary refrigerator, a body weighing scale, and a body transport cart, which will improve the storage and handling of cadavers for forensic examination.

Dr. Raquel Fortun highlighted the significance of the weighing scale, noting that her team previously had to estimate body weights due to broken equipment and procurement difficulties.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin underscored the importance of the turnover in creating a transparent, scientific pursuit of justice through forensics.

He emphasized that the equipment affirms that every life deserves respect and that in loss, there is a commitment to honoring human dignity, comforting those who weep, and uncovering the truth.

These new assets will also be used to train forensic specialists, strengthening the Philippines' medical-legal infrastructure.

This development aligns with the Department of Justice's (DOJ) cooperation with UNODC to establish UP Manila as a center for high-standard autopsies and death investigations for PDLs.