The Manila Police District Homicide Division has offered to conduct a seminar on crime scene protocol, stressing the importance of preserving the crime scene, which may contain valuable pieces of evidence. The media was especially singled out on this one as the “No. 1 contaminants of a crime scene.” I’m going to let that slide for now, holding my tongue and fingers from an acerbic retort, as I am aware how every media company jockeys for the best shots and angles whenever a crime scene is established, especially the sensational ones.
I guess we are largely to blame for contaminating a crime scene, but absolutely not the only ones who do so. But honestly, is our SOCO, the local equivalent of the American CSI, really well equipped to process a crime scene? Not to belittle our investigators, we are probably still a far cry from our imported counterparts. DNA matching is not yet available in the country, which has become the best way to solve crimes nowadays. If only we can have those hi-tech machines we see on the tv show!
But the preservation of a crime scene is really paramount in any criminal investigation. I remember in the Vizconde case, when one of the investigators punched the remaining glass pane beside the main door of the Vizconde residence while stressing a point, thereby destroying a possible source of fingerprints! And when the Calauan, Laguna police washed the van that was used in the kidnap-rape-slay involving the town mayor and his henchmen, thereby washing off all the blood that may have helped in the investigation. Which is why media cannot help but be there “in” the crime scene, to make sure that everything is indeed intact.
But what should also be controlled are the dignitaries, VIPs, politicians even high ranking police officers from entering the crime scene for photo-ops or media mileage! Some even touch vehicles, empty cartridges, broken glass shards and whatever, that may contain valuable prints! And of course, the ever-present bystanders, aka UZIs, who just love to rubberneck and linger within a crime scene. Everyone must realize and respect the preservation of a crime scene. The thick yellow tape should say it all. Even if we still are a far cry from our imported counterparts, whose laboratories as depicted in the popular show, are just a dream to have.