Defining INTERPOL's role in DVI efforts

CEBU - INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 187 member countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime.

INTERPOL also assists member countries during a crisis situation through its Incident Response Teams (IRTs) which can be briefed, equipped and deployed anywhere in the world within 24 hours of an incident.

Typically composed of expert police and support staff, an IRT is tailored to the specific nature of the crime or disaster and the type of assistance INTERPOL is requested to provide.

Context

Typhoon Frank stormed across the Philippine Sea on 21 June 2008 capsizing numerous boats and killing hundreds of people. In total an estimated 963 were left missing, including 820 passengers and crew from the MV Princess of the Stars.

The IRT arrived in Cebu on 29 June at the Philippine government’s request for assistance to identify the bodies of hundreds of people drowned at the height of the typhoon.

The team’s task of identifying remains in advanced stages of decomposition was daunting with approximately 300 bodies initially recovered from the sea after the typhoon and 220 additional remains retrieved from the capsized passenger vessel in November.

Six months into the operation, the IRT continues to provide a range of investigative and analytical support to the Philippine authorities through INTERPOL’s worldwide network of international experts and laboratories.

This report seeks to present a summary of the support provided by the INTERPOL-IRT to the Philippine authorities and their joint accomplishments from July to December 2008.

Goals

Secretary General Ronald K. Noble travelled to the Philippines in July to meet with senior law enforcement officers, government officials and the INTERPOL team on the ground. The objectives of the INTERPOL-IRT mission are summarized in the excerpts of Secretary General Noble's speech, below:

“I promise that we have only one goal – to ensure the accurate and dignified identification of those who perished --- and that will remain our goal until our work here is done.”

“INTERPOL is providing its full assistance to the Philippine authorities in dealing with this tragedy.” 

Since that time, in keeping with the Secretary General’s commitment, the team has co-ordinated major forensic and logistical efforts, including the installation of a mobile forensic laboratory and refrigerated containers at the Cebu International Port (CIP) where additional victims’ remains could be properly examined and stored for post mortem examinations during the identification process. 

Creation Of Disaster Victim Identification (Dvi) Team

1.INTERPOL-ICMP-NBI Collaboration

In July, the Secretary General convened a meeting with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for a collaborative approach to help the families of victims. Secretary General Noble underlined the importance of pre-planning and anticipating potential demands and difficulties facing the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team.

Since then, the IRT in Cebu has been staffed by six team members: Team Leader, Operations Analyst, DVI-Expert, Information Technology-Expert, ICMP-Expert and a Press Officer. INTERPOL’s DNA-assisted identification process is being led by NBI-DVI expert, Dr. Renato Bautista, who is the designated DVI Commander for the Philippine operation.

The DNA analysis itself is being done by the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) - the world’s foremost leader in large scale, state-of-the-art DNA based identifications. The DVI process benefited from the expertise of ICMP whose assistance to INTERPOL following the 2004 Asian tsunami was essential in the victim’s identification process through DNA comparison.

The costs of DNA examinations of Typhoon Frank victims at the ICMP laboratory in Bosnia are all being borne by INTERPOL.

 2.DVI Training -The IRT carried out an assessment of the DVI requirements for the recovery and identification of the victims. Teams from INTERPOL member countries with expertise in large-scale victim identification were deployed, as required, to provide assistance to the NBI forensic team.

Philippine agencies involved in disaster response were also briefed extensively on all DNA requirements needed for victim identification as samples from recovered victims were matched to those provided by the relatives of missing persons.

3.Fingerprint Training – Recognizing the increasing need for countries to exchange information on fingerprints for investigative purposes, INTERPOL promotes the use of standards for the capture, storage and transmission of fingerprints, electronically. At the request of the IRT, the Mobile AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) was deployed to the Philippines in July to assist with the identification of the victims. A member of INTERPOL’s AFIS Expert Group arrived to train fingerprint examiners of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from Cebu and Manila on the use of the automated system. The training which lasted for two weeks brought the Philippines a step further in acquiring and implementing national AFIS standards and systems.

Institutionalizing Modern Forensic Examination

With fingerprint identification out of the question for most of the victims, and dental records not available, it was agreed that state-of-the art DNA analysis would be utilized so that the victim identification process could take place in the most dignified and effective manner possible. 

1.Mobile forensic Laboratory - The facility, built by Norway’s reputable equipment manufacturer, NORMECA, is similar to the one used in identifying tsunami victims in Phuket, Thailand.

The fully-equipped multi-purpose mobile morgue can be converted into a mobile clinic, mobile infirmary, mobile dental clinic, mobile office, mobile canteen or a mobile storage space. It has a 25-year warranty and can be re-used if dismantled and stored properly.To ensure the fullest possible co-operation after the IRT’s current mission in the Philippines, the mobile lab will be donated to the Philippine authorities to enable them to run additional future body recoveries or DNA tests on disaster victims. 

2.Information Management Center (IMC) - INTERPOL played a central role in supporting and coordinating the Philippines’ DVI efforts. An IMC was created in recognition of the scale of the disaster and the fact that the families of victims needed prompt and accurate information on the difficult process of identification.With the help of the IMC, which is composed of the Philippine authorities, INTERPOL and the ICMP, grieving families did not have to deal with the disaster alone.

3.PlassData - As part of its DVI efforts in the Philippines, INTERPOL used PlassData, a computer system based on INTERPOL’s globally accepted DVI guidelines.IMC and morgue sites were equipped with this system to conduct post mortem examinations in accordance with international best practices and protocols.In line with INTERPOL’s DVI guidelines, forensic experts conducted detailed examinations of victims, recorded a wide range of identifying physical characteristics including height, fingerprints, tattoos, surgical implants, dental x-rays etc. PlassData assists the comparison of post mortem data against ante mortem data, as part of the identification process.

DNA-Assisted Identifications

From the release of the first DNA-assisted identifications on 17 August, NBI and INTERPOL set a goal of identifying at least 10 victims per week. Since this date the team has exceeded its target with an average of 15 identifications being made each week - and as of 19 December, the total number of DNA-assisted identifications was 235. (Please refer to accompanying charts)

Continuing The Partnership

INTERPOL will continue to provide funds for the DNA analysis of blood samples relating to Typhoon Frank victims, and will continue to support the operations of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in the Philippines with the aim of enabling NCB Manila to work as efficiently as possible.

The NCB is aided by the Command and Co-ordination Centre (CCC) in Lyon, France which operates round the clock and serves as the first point of contact for any member country faced with a crisis situation.

Conclusion

As of 19 December, 275 grieving families had been reunited with their loved-ones following months of critical work done as efficiently and swiftly as possible. During the entire process, all recovered remains were preserved with dignity, conforming to international standards and protocols.

INTERPOL’s multi-national identification effort demonstrates the Organization’s strong commitment to working closely with the Government of the Philippines in handling this difficult task until the last victim whose DNA samples can be matched with existing DNA samples from family members is identified.

It can be recalled that from the very beginning, INTERPOL set itself a single goal: to ensure that the DVI teams and police were able to work under conditions that would assist in the accurate and efficient identification of those Typhoon Frank victims who can be identified. 

The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in a special ceremony last August noted the “invaluable services rendered” by INTERPOL in the wake of Typhoon Frank.

“You have contributed greatly in alleviating the sufferings of the Filipino people and uplifted the morale of those in need,” the RDCC citation stated.

“Though a loved one can never be replaced, the families of the victims should take great comfort in the fact that the system put in place and the dedicated team of colleagues from the NBI, INTERPOL and ICMP working in Cebu City are meeting our highest expectations,” said NBI Director Nestor Mantaring in a statement released earlier.

Indeed, it is INTERPOL’s fervent desire to bring a sense of closure to families who lost loved ones in the tragic event. To achieve this goal, INTERPOL has drawn on all of its resources and forged partnerships in a clear example of its commitment to help member countries in every way possible. -/LPM      (THE FREEMAN)