Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Quarterly Publication of the Fingerprint Identification Society of the Philippines, Inc.
Postal Address: c/o National Bureau of Investigation, Central Visayas Regional Office No. VII,
Escario Street, Capitol Site, Cebu City, Philippines 6000
Email Address: fisphil@yahoo.com
Download at http://fingerprintphilippines.weebly.com/newsletter.html
UPCOMING EVENTS
DIRECTORS
. Melcon S. Lapiña
Alfie P. Sarmiento
Presentations in the 3 r d Scientific Conference………….. page 2 Vicente T. delos Reyes
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The Current State of Affairs of Fingerprint Science ……. page 2
History……………………………………………………………. page 4 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/WEBMASTER
Jury G. Rocamora
The Current Standards in Fingerprint Examination…….. page 5
HISTORIAN
About FISPhil…………………………………………………… page 6 Junvil A. Insong
News/ Features………………………………………………… page 6 EDITOR
Gallery…………………………………………………………… page 8 Jose F. Cuevas, Jr.
Introduction to Fingerprint Science by Alrose O. Choosing the Measuring Scale for Examination-
Lobitaña, Fingerprint Instructor, Southern Mindanao Quality Photography by Shirlene Springael-
Colleges, Pagadian City Esplana, Program Head, Criminology Department,
Saint Vincent’s College, Dipolog City
Review of Curriculum on Personal Identification:
Interactive Group Discussion by Moderator: Dean ACE-V Fingerprint Examination Process by Jury G.
Godyson B. Dolfo; Rapporteur: Aimee J. Goh, FISPhil Rocamora, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
Secretary
Brush-Powdering Techniques and Lifting of Latent Ten-print Recording Techniques by Vicente delos
Prints by Camillus L. Allego, Sr., Fingerprint Examiner Reyes, Fingerprint Examiner II, Lanao del Norte
II, NBI CEVRO 7 Provincial Police Office
AFIS Today: Where are we now and where are we Photomacrography of Fingerprints by Dr. Waynefred
going with Automated Fingerprint Identification H. Villarba, former Chief of NBI Photography Division
Systems by Stephen P. Cutler, PhD, CEO, FSC
Holdings; former FBI Agent assigned in the Philippine Photoshop for Fingerprint Examiners by Ronie A.
office Ausa, Professor, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion,
Roxas City, Capiz
Fingerprint Expertise by Jury G. Rocamora, Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency
1 US v. Byron Mitchell (1999) 4The United States Office of Inspector General. A Review of the
FBI’s Handling of the Brandon Mayfield Case. (March, 2006)
2Commonwealth of Mass v. Patterson 840 N.E. 2d 12, 23-33
(2005) 5 Garrett, R. J. (2009). Findings of the IAI Y7 Committee.
Identification News, 39(1)
3 State of New Hampshire v Richard Langill (2007)
respectively. Experts who were bragging of their maintaining standards of identification out of the
industry experiences in defending the supposed static ridge counting threshold simply because it has
long-standing scientific reliability of the science of no scientific backing in contemporary scientific
fingerprint were left in quandary. No less than the US researches; it resulted to the concept of
Congress has caught the attention of the Ridgeology14, though the current paradigm shift still
international forensic community through its counts on minutiae (ridge characteristics) as a
commissioned 2009 report6, which identified serious measurable aspect in qualitative and quantitative
concerns with scientific, cultural, and legal assessment of the latent print 15 16 . Just recently,
implications to the forensic comparative sciences, international professionals of diverse expertise
including fingerprints. While the NAS Report is limited gathered, and eventually published a report, as a
to the US forensic science community, the issues working group charged with conducting a scientific
brought forward were having impact to all other assessment of the effects of “extraneous
countries, including the Philippines. information,” among other human factors, that
could influence decision-making and lead to
In view of the upsurge of legal challenges erroneous interpretation in forensic latent print
nowadays, the scientific academic community has examination even to examiners acting in good faith.
pooled its potentials to save the fate of forensic This report noted some factors that affect the quality
science in general. The West Virginia University, FBI- of the work in a latent print unit, to wit: work
Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, environment, skills and expertise in interpreting prints,
Study and Technology (SWGFAST), International technology, reporting and testimony, and personnel
Association for Identification, and the National training17. Understandably, the said report is based in
Institute of Justice have collaborated in coming up US setting; much has to be done to evaluate our own
a sourcebook7 and published it last year, 2011, aside standards (if there is any) here in the Philippines.
from the continuous updating of standards in
SWGFAST 8 , the Interpol 9 , and the diligence of the These international developments signal the need to
students and professors of Institut de Police attune our local practices with the current trends of
Scientifique, Ecole des Sciences Criminelles, in the researches conducted by the academic
Universite de Laussane 10 , Switzerland of their community as well as the recommended best
researches that have bearing on the scientific practices by the fingerprint training industry. But, as
interpretation of forensic evidence. International admitted by some practitioners, the Philippine
body of experts, the International Association for forensic system is bereft of trainings such as in the
Identification, since 1973 11 and reiterated in 1995 12 field of fingerprint, save the basic (and oftentimes
and 200913, is bent in giving out messages to other the only) training upon assignment in the laboratory,
experts in other countries to shun away from and the enhancement training offered to
6 Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States, A Path 14Ashbaugh, D. Ridgeology: Modern Evaluative Friction Ridge
Forward, National Research Council (2009) Identification. Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 1999
7 Fingerprint Sourcebook, National Institute of Justice (2011) at
15Standards for Examining Friction Ridge Impressions and
http://www.nij.gov/pubs-sum/225320.htm Resulting Conclusions
8 Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and
(http://www.swgfast.org/documents/examinations-
Technology (http://www.swgfast.org) conclusions/111026_Examinations-Conclusions_1.0.pdf),
9 Interpol European Expert Group on Fingerprint Identification I
accessed: April 13, 2012
and II
10 http://www.unil.ch/esc 16 C. Newmann, I.W. Evett, and J. Skerrett. Quantifying the weight
11 Identification News, International Association for Identification, of evidence from a forensic fingerprint comparison: a new
August 1973. paradigm. J.R. Statist. Soc. A (2012).
12 Proceedings of the International Symposium on Fingerprint 17 Expert Working Group on Human Factors in Latent Print
Detection and Identification, Ne’Urim, Israel, 1995. Analysis. Latent print Examination and Human Factors: Improving
13 IAI Resolution 2009-18, 94th Annual Educational Conference of the Practice through a Systems Approach. U.S. Department of
the International Association for Identification, August 21, 2009. Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
2012.
academics by the private entity, Professional presented in order to spark the thoughts of formulating an
Academy of the Philippines in Cebu City. The accurate narration of the history of the fingerprint science
offering of Bachelor of Forensic Science 18 by the in the Philippines. Email the editor at fisphil@yahoo.com for
corrections and suggestions.
Commission on Higher Education is presumably a
sincere manifestation of the government towards In the Philippines, fingerprinting started in 1900s
contributing for the solution of crimes through sound through the Americans. A certain Mr. Jones taught
application of science. And as noticed recently in the science of fingerprinting in the Philippine
social networking site, the accurate narration of the Constabulary. It was also then that the Criminal
history of the science of fingerprint here in the Records and Identification Division of Manila Police
Philippines is wanting; we saw ourselves dabbling on District (now Western Police District) utilized the
the history issue offhanded. Bertillon system of identification. After World
War II, the Henry System of Fingerprint
Amidst the aforementioned challenges
Classification was introduced by the US
against the “gold standard” of forensic
Army.
science, the Fingerprint Identification
Society of the Philippines (FISPhil) was Capt. Thomas Dugan of the New York
organized last April 15, 2012 in Cebu City Police Department and Flaviano C.
and its 2nd scientific conference was held Guerrero, a Filipino member of the FBI
on April 15-16, 2013 at Western Philippines helped to organize the fingerprinting in the
University, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (for NBI. They gave the first examination in fingerprint
more information please visit in 1927, and a certain Agustin Patricio topped in that
http://fingerprintphilippines.weebly.com). It is the examination.
object of the FISPhil to further educate fingerprint
practitioners and academicians and to maintain In 1910, the Bureau of Corrections through Mr.
their respective professional standards. To that end, Generoso La Torre, also adopted fingerprint system
the Society will sponsor annual educational for identification of inmates. He learned the system
opportunities through Scientific Conference and will from Lt. George M. Wolfe, the first director of the
strive to conduct trainings throughout the year. bureau of prisons from 1909 to 1910.
Instructions of the said educational activities will be
shared by recognized experts from all involved Generoso Reyes became the first Filipino fingerprint
sectors in law enforcement (PNP, NBI, PDEA, etc.), technician employed in the Philippine Constabulary,
academe and legal community. while Isabela Bernales was the first Filipina fingerprint
technician.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of
the author and do not necessarily reflect the position, The earliest case using fingerprint evidence to
opinion, or policy of his employer or any organization with convict the suspect was People of the Philippine
which he is or has been affiliated. Islands v. Marciano D. Medina (G.R. No. L-38434,
December 23, 1933).
18http://criminaljusticeregion9.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/6/7/106
71578/draft_psg_for_forensic_science_9-19-2011.pdf
as the Fingerprint Record Section of the Philippine THE CURRENT STANDARD S IN FINGERPRINT
Constabulary. IDENTIFICATION
NATURE
FISPhil is a non-profit professional organization where
fingerprint specialists coming from different entities
such as the academe, law enforcement agencies,
forensic laboratories, research and training centers
pool their respective expertise for the advancement
of the forensic fingerprint examination in the
Philippines.
VISION
We strive to be a venue for expert
consultancy, research and innovation, teaching
and continuing professional development in
the field of forensic fingerprint examination.
GOAL
The goal of the FISPhil is to bridge the gap between
academic research, teaching, and forensic
practice by making it of service to all stakeholders
within the criminal justice system. Such can be
attained by drawing on skills and expertise from
The Magnifying Lens as the basic tool of the
diverse scientific fields across the fingerprint
discipline in the law enforcement agencies, and examiner in conducting analysis and comparison of
training or teaching institutions. fingerprints.
3. To encourage research on friction ridge Apple Touch ID fingerprint sensor fooled by fake
identification; and fingerprint. “NO, TOUCH ID IS NOT THE SUPER-
SECURE LOCKED DOWN S OLUTION THAT SOME
4. To promote camaraderie of all fingerprint MIGHT HAVE HOPED APP LE'S FINGERPRINT
professionals. SENSOR WOULD OFFER T O THE IPHONE 5. A
GROUP OF HACKERS HAV E ALRE ADY
For more details, please visit our website at: MANAGED TO BYPASS THE SECURITY
http://fingerprintphilippines.weebly.com SETTINGS.”
Read more at
http://www.mobileburn.com/22038/news/apple-touch-
id-fingerprint-sensor-fooled-by-fake-fingerprint
GALLERY