Bataan Heroes College

Bataan Heroes
College
Balanga City, Bataan

Specialized Crime Investigation

1 with Legal Medicine

KAMILLE S. BALUYOT
Criminology Department

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Scene of Crime Operation & National Bureau of Investigation
Kamille S. Baluyot
Bataan Heroes College

This module or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or distributed in any manner
whatsoever without the express written permission of the College or the Author.

For Permission: Contact Bataan Heroes College, Roman Super Hi-way, Balanga City, Bataan, Philippines
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Scene of Crime Operation & National Bureau of Investigation
Kamille S. Baluyot
Bataan Heroes College

Module 3: Crime Scene Response Procedure

Module Description

This module presents the operational procedures as stated in PNP Manual, as to the duties
of first responder, investigator-on-case and territorial police unit. Further, this module
comprehensively discusses SOCO procedures and the policy guidelines on processing of person
present at the crime scene.

Objectives:
After studying this module, you should be able to:

1. Explain the duties of a first responder and investigator on case;

2. Identify the duties of the territorial police unit and the general SOCO procedures; and
3. Discuss the policy guidelines on processing of person present at the crime scene.

Subheadings

3.1 Duties of First Responder

3.2 Duties of the Investigator-on-Case

3.3 General SOCO Procedures

3.4 Duties of the Territorial Police Unit

3.5 Policy Guidelines on Processing of Persons Present at the Crime Scene

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Scene of Crime Operation & National Bureau of Investigation
Kamille S. Baluyot
Bataan Heroes College

3.1 Duties of First Responder

RULE 18. CRIME SCENE RESPONSE PROCEDURES SECTION

1. Duties of the First Responder (FR) The FR shall protect and secure the crime scene
through observance of the following:

a. Cordon the crime scene with whatever available materials like ropes, straws, human
barricade, police line, wood and chain;

b. Evacuate injured persons to the nearest hospital;

c. Prepare to take the “dying declaration” of severely injured person, if any;

Requisites of a “Dying Declaration” are:

1. That death is imminent and the declarant is conscious of that fact;

2. That the declaration refers to the cause and surrounding circumstances of such death;

3. That the declaration relates to facts which the victim is competent to testify to; and

4. That the declaration is offered in a case where in the declarant’s death is the subject of the
inquiry.

d. The FR shall stay in the crime scene to assist the Investigator-onCase (IOC) in the
maintenance of security, crowd control, preservation of evidence and custody of witness/suspects
until such time the investigation is completed and temporarily turned over to the local Chief of
Police (COP) for the continuance of crime scene security;

e. The FR shall attend to court duties or answer inquiries from any investigative body to
shed light and help the IOC in solving the case;

f. Prevent entry/exit of persons within the cordoned area;

g. Make note of names of possible witnesses or suspects; and

h. Brief the IOC on the situation upon arrival.

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Scene of Crime Operation & National Bureau of Investigation
Kamille S. Baluyot
Bataan Heroes College

3.2 Duties of the Investigator-on-Case

SECTION 2. Duties of the Investigator-on-Case (IOC)

a. Mandatory Briefing the IOC upon arrival at the crime scene shall be briefed by the FR
and immediately call on the SOCO team for assistance.

b. Initiation of Preliminary Survey

1. The IOC shall initiate a general assessment of the scene; take a cautious walk
through of the crime scene; take down extensive notes to document important factors; and
establish the evidence most likely to be encountered. He shall confer with the SOCO TL
in defining the extent of the search area, determining the personnel and equipment
needed, and making specific assignments. The SOCO TL shall develop a general theory
of the crime out of the joint assessment.

2. The IOC shall turn over the crime scene to the SOCO and assist the latter in
securing the crime scene perimeter. The former shall not leave the place until such time
that the SOCO, in writing and after processing, release permanently or temporarily the
custody of the crime scene back to him. If the release is only temporary, he will not allow
access to anyone on the crime scene until such time that the SOCO finally releases
permanent custody of the same.

c. Conduct of Interview While the crime scene is being processed, the IOC, using the
valuable information given to him by the FR, shall look for witnesses, immediately conduct
interview, and note down important facts for future reference.

d. Preparation of Narrative Report the IOC shall use a systematic approach in making a
narrative report. No item is insignificant to record if it catches one’s attention.
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Scene of Crime Operation & National Bureau of Investigation
Kamille S. Baluyot
Bataan Heroes College

e. Release of the Crime Scene The release of the crime scene shall be done if the IOC is
satisfied that all pieces of evidence have been recovered. Thus, he must evaluate the items
recovered from the results of interrogation of the suspect/s and the interview of the witnesses.

3.3 General SOCO Procedures

SECTION 3. General SOCO Procedures In cases where the evidence gathered needs special
processing due to significant or sensational cases, the specialists from the Crime Laboratory
shall be requested.

a. In bombing cases, the EOD personnel should first clear the area and declare it
“secured” prior to entry of the SOCO. The former, before entering the crime scene must submit
to the latter for swabbing. All evidence collected must be pre-cleared by the EOD prior to
documentation.

b. In suspected or reported chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN)

situations, the SOCO shall directly coordinate with the Special Rescue Team of the Bureau of
Fire and Protection before the conduct of the crime scene investigation.

c. In mass victim situation, the SOCO, in addition to their function, shall act as the FR to
the Interim Disaster Victim Identification Task Group (IDVI TG) of the PNP Crime Laboratory.
The IDVI TG shall immediately assess the forensic specialists needed to be deployed at the crime
scene and relay the requirements to the PNP Crime Laboratory Headquarters.

d. The SOCO has motu proprio authority to direct all operating units involved in the
police operation to submit their respective personnel for forensic examination; their service
firearms for ballistic tests; and other pieces of evidence involved to expedite the investigation of
the case.
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Scene of Crime Operation & National Bureau of Investigation
Kamille S. Baluyot
Bataan Heroes College

3.4 Duties of the Territorial Police Unit

SECTION 4. Duties of the Territorial Police Unit

a. Provide assistance in the evacuation of the injured persons to the nearest hospital;

b. Control the crowd at the crime scene;

c. Direct the flow of traffic away from the crime scene so as not to destroy and
contaminate vital evidence; and

d. Provide security back-up to the SOCO.

3.5 Policy Guidelines on Processing of Persons Present at the Crime

Scene

SECTION 5. Policy Guidelines on Processing of Persons Present at the Crime Scene

These policy guidelines prescribe the operational procedures in processing and handling
persons present at the crime scene; be they the suspects, victims or witnesses. The aim is to
clearly define police courses of actions in dealing with persons who, for any reason and
personal circumstance, are at the crime scene during the conduct of police operation.

a. Crisis Management As soon as the perpetrators surrender, or when they are captured
or neutralized, the On-Scene Commander shall ensure that the following are accomplished:

1) Processing and Debriefing

1.1 Hostages/Victims

1.2 Perpetrators

1.3 Witnesses; and

1.4 Key participants of the incident.

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Scene of Crime Operation & National Bureau of Investigation
Kamille S. Baluyot
Bataan Heroes College

2) Documentation Sworn Statement of the following:

2.1 Witnesses

2.2 Hostages

2.3 Perpetrators

2.4 Key participants in the incidents

3) Venue of Processing, Debriefing and Documentation Considering the instability of the

situation; the safety of the responders and persons found at the scene of the crime; and the
preservation of the place of incident, the venue of the processing, debriefing and investigation
shall be at a neutral and secured place.

b. Hostage Negotiation

The following procedure shall be followed during a Hostage Situation:

1) Crisis Management Task Group shall be activated immediately;

2) Incident scene shall be secured and isolated;

3) Unauthorized persons shall not be allowed entry and exit to the incident scene;
and

4) Witnesses’ names, addresses, and other information shall be recorded.

Witnesses shall be directed to a safe location.
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Scene of Crime Operation & National Bureau of Investigation
Kamille S. Baluyot
Bataan Heroes College

References
Philippine National Police Manual PNPM – DO – DS – 3 – 1, “PNP Operational Procedures” 2010
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Scene of Crime Operation & National Bureau of Investigation
Kamille S. Baluyot