Adapted Article
Written by Jae Joseph Rodriguez, Rita Laude, PhD, Ma. Corazon de Ungria, PhD
STAR SCIENCE, Philippine Star
In the Philippines, conviction of sexual offenders mostly relies on
testimonial evidence provided by the victim or the victim’s family,
which may be prone to bias, subjectivity and fraud. Many cases involve
child victims who are very young and are likely to be scared of
informing others about the abuse.
DNA analysis provides the most powerful tool for human identification
and has been in the Philippines since the late 1990s. Unfortunately,
DNA testing has not been used routinely. The failure to properly
collect, store and analyze biological samples had prolonged the
suffering of a victim and her family. Moreover, other crimes could have
been prevented had the real perpetrator been identified and
incarcerated.
Because of the close, physical contact between victim and offender
during an assault, biological material from the assailant is almost
always left on the victim’s body. DNA collected from cases of sexual
assault is usually in the form of mixtures, with the offender’s (or
offenders’ as in the case of gang rape) DNA commingling with the
victim’s DNA. If not properly handled and stored, DNA obtained may be
degraded faster due to the tropical and humid environment in the
country. A highly robust system for DNA testing of sexual assault cases
from collection, handling, laboratory analysis and storage, is therefore
necessary.
The DNA Analysis Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute (www.dnaforensic.org)
in UP Diliman, together with the Institute of Biological Sciences, UP
Los Baños (ibs.uplb.edu.ph), is undertaking a research project that
entails the validation of procedures for sample collection, processing
and DNA analysis of biological samples commonly collected from a victim
using a sexual assault investigation kit (SAIK). It is hoped that the
study will be used to form guidelines for handling this type of evidence
in order to accelerate the fair administration of justice by Philippine
courts.
Read the full article
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JJRodriguez is an alumus (Batch Ribozymes) while Dr. RPLaude is an honorary member of The UPLB Genetics Society. As one of the leading forensic experts (forensic genetics, in particular) in the country, Dr. MCDeUngria is one of the most invited speakers of the organization - first in 2008 during the First BIO 30 Week which won the Best Symposium from the UNO Awards, and second in 2011 during the fifth offering of the annual Genetics Camp.
JJRB Rodriguez is a BS Biology cum laude graduate from UP Los Baños. He is currently working on the research entitled “Formulation of an Integrated System of Forensic DNA Testing for the Evaluation of Sexual Assault Cases in the Philippines” at the DNA Analysis Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute in UP Diliman, as part of his Master of Science in Genetics degree at UP Los Baños. In 2012, he presented part of this work at the Asian Forensic Science Network (AFSN) in Bangkok, Thailand. He has been teaching genetics and cell biology at the Institute of Biological Sciences, UP Los Baños since 2007.
Dr. RP Laude is a professor of Genetics at the Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, UP Los Baños. She is currently the program director for Agriculture of the Philippine Genome Center of the University of the Philippines System.
Dr. MCA de Ungria is the head of the DNA Analysis Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute of UP Diliman and has appeared as expert witness in cases involving disputed parentage issues and in relation to criminal cases. The UP-NSRI DNA Laboratory continues to offer its parentage testing and DNA profiling expertise as part of its commitment to serve the community. The laboratory may be contacted at 632 925-2965 and updnalab@gmail.com.
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