Regional police gets 40 fingerprinting kits

Examining of prints at crime scenes is expected to proceed "faster and better" with the distribution of 40 fingerprinting kits to the regional police office.

Camp Crame's chief of the PNP crime laboratory Supt. Ernesto Belen yesterday turned over the kits to regional police director Eduardo Gador as he also announced that there might be a reorganization of medico-legal officers nationwide next month due to the addition of 17 new medico-legal officers fresh from training.

Belen did not directly say whether Central Visayas' medico-legal officer Alexander Uy will be affected in the revamp.

Also next week, the Regional PNP Crime Laboratory under Supt. Myrna Arreola is set to release its investigation on the indiscriminate firing incident involving Uy and S/Insp. David Patriana.

The incident stemmed from a misunderstanding about Patriana's documents which Uy wanted removed from a table in the medico-legal office.

Belen said he was quickly informed about the incident that was why he sought the help of Regional Intelligence and Investigation chief Augusto Marquez to assist in the investigation.

Patriana has been holding office at the regional headquarters away from Uy while waiting the result of the investigation.

Belen said he cannot just pull out any of them from Central Visayas because the cases they are handling might be affected, but he said he would approve of whatever is Arreola's recommendation.

Meanwhile the fingerprinting kits that were turned over yesterday were part of the Japan International Bank Cooperation's move to aid the PNP's automated finger printing system.

Among the beneficiaries in the region are the Naga, Bogo, Liloan, Madridejos, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Toledo, Carcar and the provincial police.

Police stations in Negros Oriental like the Zamboanguita, Sibulan, Amlan, Manjuyod, Bindoy, Tanjay , Jimalalod, Vallehermoso, Canlaon, Bayawan and Dumaguete will also get one kit each.

In Bohol, those getting kits are the police stations in Ubay, Tagbilaran, Talibon, Guinduluan, Balilihan, Calape, Anda, Catigbian, Bilar, Carmen, San Isidro, Sevilla, Sagbayan, Dimiao, and Mabini police stations respectively while recipients in Siquijor are Larena, Lazi, Maria and Siquijor.

Gador said that with the new kits determining and matching of fingerprints will be done quickly, in fact under the system the databank can supply at least 10 of the nearest prints in just a matter of seconds.- Ryan P. Borinaga