REVIEW ON

QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
Topic Definition of terms &
Kinds of Documents
GENERAL DEFINITION OF TERM
 Document – any material containing marks, symbols or signs either visible, partially
visible that may ultimately convey a meaning to someone.
Latin word “documentum”, means lesson or example or instruction or
official paper
French word “docere”, means to teach
 Questioned document – is any material which some issue has been raised or which is
under scrutiny. AGOSA
 Disputed document – a term suggesting that there is an argument or controversy
over the document.
 Standard – set of authentic specimens which, if adequate and proper should contain
a cross section of the material from a known source.
 Exemplar – term used by some document examiners and atty. To characterize known
material
 Holographic document (holograph) – any document completely written and signed
by one person
 Kinds of Document
 Public document – notarized by a notary public or competent
public official with solemnities required by law
 Official document – issued by the government or its agents or its
officers having the authority to do so and the offices
 Private document – executed by private without the
intervention of a notary public of any person legally authorized,
by which documents, some agreements is proved evidence
 Commercial document – executed in accordance with the
Code of commerce
 Electronic document – exists only in electronic form such as
data stored on a computer, network are e-mails, instant
messages, spreadsheets, websites
 Nature and Classification of Documents

1. General – document receiving full

circulation communications from the
government
2. Limited – documents for which wide
circulation is unnecessary because of the
temporary nature of the documents
3. Restricted – applies exclusively to
documents whose content requires that
they be treated as confidential or withheld
from public circulation
Writings which do not constitute
documents
1. A draft of a Municipal payroll which is not yet
approved by the proper authority
2. Mere blank forms of official documents, the
spaces of which are not filled up
3. Pamphlets or books which do not evidence any
disposition or agreement are not documents but
are mere merchandise
 Classes of Questioned Documents
1. Documents with questioned signatures
2. Questioned documents alleged to have been containing
fraudulent alterations
3. Questioned or disputed holographic wills/ notarial wills
4. Documents investigated on the question of typewriting
5. Questioned documents on issues of their age or date
6. Questioned documents on issues of materials used in their
production
7. Documents investigated because it is alleged that they
identify some persons through handwriting
Questioned Document Examination
terms:
 Addition – any matter made a part of the document after its original
preparation may be referred to as addition
 Alteration – refers to any change in the writing made by the party thereto
 Cancellation – it refers to any matter that is out, strike out or scratched out
after its original preparation
 Document examiner – refers to anyone who studies scientifically the details
and elements of documents in order to identify their source
 Forensic Document examiner – refers to a person who studies all aspects of
a document to determine its authenticity, origin, handwriting, photocopies,
inks and papers
 Erasure – the removal of writings, typewriting or printing, from a document is
an erasure
 Examination – act of making close and critical study of any material and
with questioned documents
 Questioned Document Examination
terms:
 Expert witness – a legal term used to describe a witness who by reason of
his special trainings permitted to express an opinion regarding the issue
which is involved in a court of action
 Insertion – it is the addition of writing and other material between lines or
paragraphs or the addition of whole page to a document
 Obliteration – the blotting out or shearing over the writing to make the
original invisible to as an addition
 Opinion – refers to the document examiner’s conclusion

Two principles:
a. Law on Multiplicity of Evidence
b. Principle of identification
 Divisions of Questioned Document
Examination
 Criminalistics Examination
 Handwriting Identification/ analysis

THREE Aspects of Questioned Document Examination

1. Handwriting and Hand printing

Examination which includes signatures for the purpose of determining genuineness and
authorship. (Hand written)

Handwriting:

Conventional- Extended- longhand or cursive writing. The letters are joined.

Manuscript Script- disconnect writing. Kind of handwriting most often

learned by schoolchildren who are just beginning to write.
2. Typewriting / Type print, Photocopiers, Laser printers, Label makers

Examination for determination of genuineness and source which

includes check writing. (Machine Made)

3.Miscellaneous Document Examination

1.Detection of alteration
2.Decipherment of erased writing
3.Restoration of faded writing
4.Determination of genuineness of currency
5.Other related examination
a .Printing Processes
b. Ink, Pencil, Paper
c. Alterations, additions, erasures, obliterations
d. Indentations
e. Sequence of Strokes
f. Physical Matching
Scientific Method in Questioned
Document Examination
a. Analysis – properties or characteristics, observed or measured
b. Comparison – properties of the unknown determined thought
analysis are now compared with the familiar or recorded properties
of known items
c. Evaluation - similarities or dissimilarities in properties will each have
certain values for identification, determine the likelihood of
occurrence
d. Verification – its is the process of double checking that accuracy
and correctness of the examination
Instruments and apparatus used in
QDE
 Magnifying lens – max. diameter is 4 inches, 5 times or more magnifying
power
 Shadowgraph – pictorial image formed by casting a shadow , usually of
the hands, upon a rightful surface or screen
 Stereoscopic binocular microscope – a tri-dimensional (3D)enlargement
 Measures and Test plates
 Table lamps with adjustable shades – used for controlled illumination
 Transmitted light gadget
 Ultra- violet lamp – used in the detection of counterfeited bills, security
features of qualified documents
Instruments and apparatus used in
QDE
 Infrared viewer – used to decipher writings in a charred document
 Comparison microscope
 Video spectral comparator – used in the examination of masked or
obliterated text, watermarks
 Electrostatic Detection Apparatus – device that can detect
indention writings can records transparencies of any indentations
TECHNIQUES USED IN THE EXAMINATION OF QD

1. Microscopic examination –used to detect retouching,

patching and unnatural pen lifts in signature analysis.
2. Transmitted light examination – used to determine the
presence of erasures, matching of serration and some
other types of alteration
3. Oblique light examination – used to determine
decipherment of faded handwriting, determination of
outlines in traced forgery and embossed impression
4. Photographic examination – it is essential in every
document examination, it can record actual
observations
TECHNIQUES USED IN THE EXAMINATION OF QD

5. Ultraviolet examination – this is done in the darkroom

which should be in a minimum duration in order to
prevent the writing ink and the typewriter ribbon from
fading. It is used for several pages and substitution is
being suspected
6. Electrostatic detection (ESDA) – detects indented
writings and records transparency of any indentions
7. Vide spectral comparator (VSC) – used in the
examination of masked or obliterated text, water
marks, visible fluorescence (paper) and oblique
illumination of indented writing and embossing.
8. Preparation of court exhibits
 Handwriting Identification
Handwriting - it is the result of a very complicated series of
acts, being used as whole, combination of certain forms of
visible mental and muscular habits acquired by long,
continued painstaking effort.
Kinds of writings
a. cursive
b. script
c. BLOCK
School Copybook Form (school model) – refers to standard
of handwriting instruction taught in particular school
Physiological basis of handwritings
Cortex – part of the brain where impulses to form the letters emanates.
Agraphia- a disease in the brain that affects the ability of the person to write.

Muscles that control the writing process

FLEXOR MUSCLE- muscle that controls the downward movement process of

the writing

EXTENSOR MUSCLE- muscle that controls the upward movement of the

writing process.

LUMBRICAL MUSCLE- muscle that controls the lateral movement of the

writing process.
Development of handwriting of an
individual
 Children learn writing by following the school copy or
model
 Acquiring some degree of skill the children no longer
follow the school model
 As speed increases, conscious design and regularity
begin to break down
 In the course of trial and error, modification are made,
simplification and elaborations, addition and omissions
occur
Systems of early American
handwriting
1. Old English round hand – Italian hand popular in 1840
2. Modified round hand – early edition of the Spencerian,
copybook 1840-1860
3. Spencerian – simplification by the omission of extra
strokes and flourishes
4. Modern vertical writing 1890-1900
5. Arm movement writing
 HISTORY OF WRITING
Writings are letters or symbols that are written or imprinted
on a surface to represent the sounds or words of
language.
Cave drawings were the most familiar early writings
and in fact the first recorded record of prehistoric people.
Cave drawings are called petroglyphs or petrograms
which were developed between 20,000 and 10,000 BC.
These paintings are gradually developed into word
pictures or ideographs which were used by Sumerians,
Chinese, Aztecs, Mayas and Egyptians.
Pertinent Laws and Regulations to protect and maintain the integrity of the
Currency

Art. 171. Falsification by public officer,

employee or notary or ecclesiastic minister. —
The penalty of prision mayor and a fine not to
exceed P5,000 pesos shall be imposed upon
any public officer, employee, or notary who,
taking advantage of his official position, shall
falsify a document by committing any of the
following acts: