F.

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC CRIME LABORATORY IN THE PHILIPPINES:

February 14, 1829 Massacre occurred in Chicago. Then a group public minded individuals was
responsible for the establishment of scientific crime laboratory in that city which
today has taken its place in the historical annals of police science
March 31, 1876 Creation of “Medicos-Titulares” by virtue of the Royal Decree no. 188 of Spain.
For every province, a Forensic Physician was assigned to perform public sanitary
duties and at the same time, medico-legal aids to the Administration of Justice
December 15, 1884 Governor General Joaquin Javellar created a committee to study the mineral
waters of Luzon and appointed Anacleto del Rosario as chemist
September 13, 1887 Establishment of “Laboratorio Municipal de Manila” under the inspection of the
“Direccion General de Administracion Civil” and the control of the “Gobierno de
Provincias”. The functions of the laboratory were to make analysis not only on
food, water and others from the standpoint of public health and legal medicine but
also of specimen of clinical progress
1894 “Laboratorio Medico-Legal” was created under the dependency of the judicial
branch of the government and the laboratory functioning under the direction of
Physician and assisted by Pharmacist-Chemist
1895 Antonio Luna established a clinical laboratory where some original works in
Chemistry were done. Unfortunately, all prospects of the advancement of the
scientific laboratories were paralyzed as a result of the revolution in 1896
1899 First Scientific laboratory were established in a small building on the banks of
Pasig River with Lt. R. P. Strong of the US ARMY in charge
1901 Actual scientific work began under the initiative of Dean C. Worcester by virtue of
Act No. 156 approved by the Civil Commission
July 01, 1901 The Bureau of Government Laboratories was created for the purpose of
performing biological and chemical examinations as well as for the production of
vaccines and sera
March 11, 1915 The Department of Legal Medicine was created pursuant to the resolution of the
Board of Regents. The Department took charge of the courses of legal Medicines
and its branches in the College of Medicine and Law
October 14, 1924 Through the passage of Act No. 3043 by the Philippine Legislature, the same
Department of Legal Medicine became a branch of the Department of Justice and
at the same time, an integral part of the University of the Philippines
December 01, 1937 The “Division of investigation” was created under the Commonwealth Act No.
181with two medico-legal officers and a chemist. The Medico- Legal Section of
the Division of Investigation started the definite movement towards the creation of
scientific crime detection laboratory
September 1945 The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was organized with the Division of
Investigation as the nucleus. The chemical laboratory of the medico-legal section
was expanded into a Forensic Chemistry Division