A world-class forensic laboratory meant to help solve crimes faster and deter criminals is nearing completion in the City of Taguig, just two years after it broke ground.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday brought Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to the site of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s first-of-its-kind forensic laboratory in Camp Bagong Diwa as part of the Secretary’s inspection of DPWH projects in the senator’s home city.
Several portions of the project have already been completed, while work on other sections continues to make significant progress.
“Ang intensiyon nito is to move the capability of PNP,” he told reporters during the visit on April 28, 2026.
“Ang buong responsibilidad sa anti-crime ay buong society: magulang, pari, pastor, businessmen, media. Sistema ‘yan. But how do you help the police? One way is to back them up with the facilities and science,” he continued.
The project is a collaboration between the City Government of Taguig, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and Taguig City University, whose criminology program consistently ranks among the top in the country.
The visit also highlighted Cayetano’s long-running partnership with Dizon, the DPWH’s “action man” who has been personally inspecting public works projects across the country since taking over the department.
First of its kind in Southeast Asia
Cayetano, who has championed the project since 2007, earlier said the facility is envisioned to become the “most modern forensics unit in Southeast Asia” and a major step toward strengthening the country’s justice system.
“All around the world, law enforcement is moving into two things: forensic science and artificial intelligence,” he said.
Once opened, the 12-storey facility in Taguig will house the 13 technical divisions of the NCR Regional Forensic Unit, providing a central site for faster and more coordinated evidence processing, analysis, and secure storage.
The lab will have advanced facilities that can analyze different kinds of evidence, from physical to digital. This includes facilities for medico-legal and autopsy work, forensic chemistry and drug-testing, DNA analysis, ballistics and firearms testing, and checking fingerprints and suspicious documents.
“‘Pag crime scene, nilalagyan pa natin ng dilaw na tape. But napapaisip tayo kung talaga bang kinukuha ang fingerprint at DNA? Mapagkakatiwalaan ba natin ang pasa-pasa ng DNA? Sigurado ba talagang nakulong ’yon?” he previously said. “Many of these questions ay mareresolve ‘pag mayroon tayong very professional forensic group at modern crime lab.”
Deterrent to crime
The project is part of Cayetano’s broader push to modernize crime laboratories across the country to help law enforcers build stronger evidence and solve cases faster.
“The biggest deterrent to crime is the certainty of being caught,” he said back in 2022 during Taguig’s celebration of National Correctional Consciousness Week.
He stressed that while witness testimony is accepted in court, forensic evidence “simply has more weight.”
During the visit to the forensic lab on Tuesday, the senator encouraged police officers, whether active in the service or retired, to communicate their needs to policymakers.
“Engage niyo y’ung policymakers, from the barangay all the way to Malacañang, because mas alam niyo ang problema niyo at mas alam niyo ang solusyon,” he said.### (PR)