Cayetano, Dizon inspect Taguig forensic lab nearing completion

TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon inspected the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) first-of-its-kind forensic laboratory in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, on Tuesday, highlighting progress on a project envisioned to modernize crime-solving in the country.

The 12‑storey facility, nearing completion just two years after groundbreaking, will house 13 technical divisions of the NCR Regional Forensic Unit.

It is designed to provide faster, more coordinated evidence processing, analysis, and secure storage. Advanced laboratories will cover medico-legal and autopsy work, forensic chemistry and drug testing, DNA analysis, ballistics and firearms testing, and fingerprint and document examination.

“This is meant to move the capability of the PNP,” Cayetano told reporters during the April 28 inspection.

He added in Filipino, translated into English: “The responsibility for fighting crime belongs to society — parents, clergy, business, media. But one way to help the police is to back them up with facilities and science.”

The project is a collaboration between the City Government of Taguig, the National Capital Region Police Office, and Taguig City University, whose criminology program ranks among the country’s best.

Cayetano, who has pushed for the project since 2007, said the facility is envisioned as the “most modern forensics unit in Southeast Asia.”

He emphasized that forensic evidence carries more weight in court than witness testimony and can serve as a deterrent to crime.

“The biggest deterrent to crime is the certainty of being caught,” he said.

Dizon’s visit underscored his ongoing inspections of public works projects nationwide.

Cayetano encouraged police officers, active or retired, to engage policymakers directly.

“You know your problems and solutions better,” he said.

The facility is expected to strengthen the country’s justice system by integrating forensic science and modern technology into law enforcement.