Purpose
- Provides guidelines and procedures for handling cadavers and human remains
- Applicable to Investigators-on-Case, Scene of Crime Operations (SOCO) team, and accredited funeral morgues
- Covers removal, retrieval, transfer, and transport from crime scene/hospital to accredited morgue for forensic examination
Definition of Key Terms
- Autopsy: Thorough medical examination of corpse to determine cause and manner of death
- Forensic Examination: Scientific examination related to judicial investigations requested by investigative bodies or courts
- Histopathological Examination: Microscopic tissue examination to determine cause of death
- Morgue: Facility for storage, identification, and examination of bodies of unknown dead persons or unknown causes
- Morgue Accreditation: Certification for morgue competency and authority to conduct autopsies
- Medico-Legal Officer: Trained physician performing forensic procedures assisting investigators
- Postmortem Examination: External inspection of a corpse without incision, may involve fluid collection
Scope of Application
- Applies to all Investigators-on-Case at national, regional, provincial, city, and municipal levels
- Includes members of PNP SOCO team and accredited funeral morgues handling cadavers related to investigations
Procedures for Handling Cadavers
- All cadavers involved in criminal cases are to be turned over by Investigator-on-Case to SOCO Team Leader or Medico-Legal Officer for autopsy
- Recovered human remains and parts must be brought to a PNP accredited morgue for identification
- Preferably conduct forensic examination where body parts (e.g., head) are kept for decapitated/mutilated corpses
- Cadavers to be wrapped in linen before placement in cadaver bags by trained personnel supervised by SOCO Team Leader
- SOCO Team Leader supervises inventory and security of cadavers’ personal belongings
- Evidence such as clothing identified and turned over to SOCO Evidence Custodian; insignificant belongings returned to Investigator-on-Case or kin
- Immediate collection of biological samples prone to deterioration or loss during transport is prioritized
- Identification tags and markings are affixed on cadaver and cadaver bag
- SOCO Team Leader supervises removal from crime scene and facilitates transport to PNP Crime Laboratory morgue or accredited morgue; in absence, Investigator-on-Case assumes responsibility
- Collection and examination of evidence for DNA, blood alcohol, toxicology, etc. may be conducted during autopsy by Medico-Legal Officers
- Investigator-on-Case responsible for retrieving evidence from cadavers at hospitals
Guidelines for Autopsy and Cadaver Handling
Conduct of Autopsy
- Cadavers must be protected from contamination by PNP personnel
- Referral to funeral morgue services by PNP personnel is prohibited
- Family preference for funeral parlor honored if PNP-accredited
- Fee settlement between family and funeral parlor if non-accredited service chosen, fees must be reasonable
- Autopsies related to criminal cases or unidentified/died on arrival (DOA) cadavers are free of charge
- PNP Crime Laboratory morgue may store cadavers up to 12 hours from estimated death; beyond this period, storage transferred to accredited morgues
- Non-criminal cases opting for autopsy require payment of Php 1,200 for gross autopsy and Php 1,000 for histopathological exams via Land Bank of the Philippines
- Unidentified cadavers require Investigator-on-Case autopsy request especially within 12 hours of estimated death if no kin available
Release of Cadaver
- Medico-Legal Officer in charge must document release of cadaver to immediate family or kin
- Release to authorized funeral parlor requires written authorization from family or kin
Special Provisions
- For foreign victims, embassy must be notified and consent obtained from kin or embassy representative prior to autopsy
- Release should be documented and coordinated with embassy or kin
- Religious considerations allow for postmortem without dissection accompanied by waiver from kin; Medico-Legal Officer must inform regarding incomplete examination
Repealing Clause
- All PNP issuances, memoranda, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this circular are repealed or amended accordingly
Effectivity
- Circular takes effect 15 days after filing with University of the Philippine Law Center
- Compliance with Sections 3 and 4, Chapter 2, Book VII of Executive Order No. 292 (The Revised Administrative Code of 1987)