Big Picture in Focus: ULOb.

Demonstrate proper
procedures in processing the crime scene and examine
post-mortem changes in homicide investigation.

Metalanguage

For you to better understand ULOb, you will need to have an operational
understanding of the following terms below. Please note that you will also be required
to refer to the previous definitions found in ULOa section.

 ANTE MORTEM – Before death.

 CADAVER - A corpse or a dead body.
 CADAVER TAG - An identification tag attached to the cadaver containing tag
number, name (if identified), date/time & place of recovery, date/time/type/place
of incident, gender, other pertinent information, and name of investigator. The
tag shall be made using suitable materials which can be used of in all types of
weather.
 CAUSE OF DEATH – A declaration of by what means and by whom the
declarant was injured is within the purview of the term “the cause of the
declarant’s death” in a dying declaration.
 CORPUS DELICTI – Latin for the “body of the crime” It is the legal term used
to describe/physical/or material evidence that a crime has been committed such
as the corpse of a murder victim or the cleaned of a torched building. It is used
to refer to the underlying principle that, without evidence of a crime having been
committed, it would be unjust to convict someone.
 CRIME SCENE – A venue or place where the alleged crime/incident/event has
been committed.
 CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION. It refers to the post-incident police
operational procedures undertaken at the crime scene when a crime has been
committed.
 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR – A public safety officer who is tasked to conduct
the investigation of all criminal cases as provided for and embodied under the
Revised Penal Code/Criminal Laws and Special Laws which are criminal in
nature. A well-trained, disciplined and experienced professional in the field of
criminal investigation duties and responsibilities.
 EVIDENCE – The means sanctioned by the Rules of Court, of ascertaining in
a judicial proceeding the truth respecting a matter of fact. These include but are
not limited to documentary, testimonial, electronic and object evidence,
gathered in the course of the investigation.
 HOMICIDE - Any person who shall kill another without the attendance of any of
the circumstances enumerated in the crime of murder. (Under Art 249 RPC)
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 INVESTIGATION – It is the process of inquiring, eliciting, soliciting and getting

vital information/facts/circumstances in order to establish the truth.
 INVESTIGATOR/OFFICER – Shall refer to any law enforcement personnel
belonging to the duly mandated law enforcement agencies (LEA) tasked to
enforce Republic Act 9208 such as officers, investigators and agents of the
Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of
Immigration.
 MURDER – Any person who shall kill another person with evident
premeditation, treachery, superior strength, aid of armed men, consideration of
prize and reward of promise and by means of fire, poison, explosion and other
means involving great waste and ruin. (Under Art 248, RPC)
 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE - Evidence addressed to the senses of the court that
are capable of being exhibited, examined, or viewed by the court. This includes
but not limited to fingerprints, body fluids, explosives, hazardous chemicals,
soil/burned debris, bombs, electronic parts used in the commission of the crime.
 Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) – A forensic procedure performed by
the trained personnel of the PNP Crime Laboratory SOCO Team through
scientific methods of investigation for the purpose of preserving the crime
scene, gathering information, documentation, collection, and examination of all
physical and other forensic evidence

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

For the next 4-5 weeks of this course, topics that are presented from this chapter
were taken from the approved references of the course. Please note that you are not
limited to exclusively refer to the resources. Thus, you are expected to utilize other
books, research articles and other resources that are available in the university’s library
e.g. ebrary, search.proquest.com etc.

1. Roles and Functions Scene of the Crime Operatives

a. The SOCO Team shall not join any operations conducted by the local police or
accompany the FRs or the IOC in going to the crime scene. They will only
respond upon request through the Operations Center and after the IOC has
already made proper assessment of the crime scene;
b. Upon receipt of the Request for Conduct of SOCO, the SOCO Team shall then
conduct the scene of the crime operations which include among others the
narrative description of the crime scene, photography, videography, crime
scene search, crime scene sketch, crime scene location sketch, physical
evidence recording and collection, and other procedures necessary;
c. In case the SOCO Team needs to temporarily suspend the processing, the
Chief of Police shall be primarily responsible and accountable for securing the

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Telefax: (082)300-5456

crime scene and ensuring its integrity until the return of SOCO Team and the
conclusion of the CSI;
d. After the termination of the SOCO, the SOCO Team Leader shall brief the IOC
on the initial results and thereafter conduct the final crime scene survey
together with the IOC; and
e. The SOCO Team shall accomplish the CSI Form “4” - SOCO Report Forms and
furnish the IOC of copies of the same before leaving the crime scene.

 Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) – A forensic procedure performed by

the trained personnel of the PNP Crime Laboratory SOCO Team through
scientific methods of investigation for the purpose of preserving the crime
scene, gathering information, documentation, collection, and examination of all
physical and other forensic evidence

Fig. 2 PNP- Scene of the Crime Operative. Retrieved from

https://www.untvweb.com/news/bilang-ng-krimen-sa-bansa-bumaba-pnp/
2. Crime Scene Response and Procedures

2.1 Role of the First Responder

The four main tasks of the first officer on the scene are:
 To give first aid;
 To apprehend the suspected offender;
 To protect and if necessary, collect and preserve evidence; and
 To cordon off and protect the area.

2.2 Duties of a First Responder

The FR shall protect and secure the crime scene through observance of the
following:

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 Cordon the crime scene with whatever available materials like ropes,
straws, human barricade, police line, wood and chain;
 Evacuate injured persons to the nearest hospital;
 Prepare to take the “dying declaration” of severely injured person, if any;
 Requisites of a “Dying Declaration” are:
o That death is imminent and the declarant is conscious of that fact;
o That the declaration refers to the cause and surrounding
circumstances of such death;
o That the declaration relates to facts which the victim is competent
to testify to; and
o That the declaration is offered in a case where in the declarant’s
death is the subject of the inquiry.
 The FR shall stay in the crime scene to assist the Investigator-on-case
(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;
 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;
 Prevent entry/exit of persons within the cordoned area;
 Make note of names of possible witnesses or suspects; and
 Brief the IOC on the situation upon arrival.

2.3 Role of the Investigator-on-case

 Upon arrival at the crime scene, the IOC shall request for a briefing from
the FR and make a quick assessment of the crime;
 At this stage, the IOC shall assume full responsibility over the crime
scene and shall conduct a thorough assessment of the scene and inquiry
into the incident. If necessary, the IOC may conduct crime scene search
outside the area where the incident happened, employing any of the
various search methods;
 Based on the assessment, if the IOC determines that a SOCO team is
required, he shall report the matter to his COP and request for a SOCO,
otherwise, the IOC shall proceed with the CSI without the SOCO team
and shall utilize CSI Form “4”
 The IOC may by himself if the situation so demands, conduct CSI if,
there is no Provincial Crime Laboratory Office/Regional Crime
Laboratory Office in the province. The IOC must, however, ensure that
the correct procedures in the collection of evidence are observed to
ensure the admissibility of the evidence;
 The Police Station Operation Center, upon directive of the COP, shall
make the request for the SOCO team through the Provincial/City
Operations Center;
 It shall be the responsibility of the Provincial/City Operations Center to
facilitate the request for the SOCO Team;

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 Upon the arrival of the SOCO Team, the IOC shall accomplish CSI Form
“2” and submit the same to the SOCO Team Leader. The SOCO team
shall not enter the crime scene unless the IOC makes the official written
request wherein he assures the SOCO team of his presence and support
and
 The IOC shall brief the SOCO Team upon their arrival at the crime scene
and shall jointly conduct the preliminary crime scene survey.

2.4 Procedure on processing crime scene

a. Upon arrival at the crime scene

o Receive the crime scene from the first responder.
o Record time/date of arrival at the crime scene, location of the
scene, condition of the weather, condition and type of lighting,
direction of wind and visibility.
o Photograph and/or video the entire crime scene.
o Before touching or moving any object at the crime scene in a
homicide or murder case, determine first the status of the victim,
whether he is still alive or already dead.
o If the victim is alive, the investigator should exert effort to gather
information from the victim himself regarding the circumstances
of the crime, while a member of the team or someone must call
an ambulance from the nearest hospital.
o Before removing the victim, mark, sketch and photograph his/her
relative position. Only a coroner or a medical examiner shall
remove the dead body unless unusual circumstances justify its
immediate removal.
b. Recording
 The investigator begins the process of recording pertinent facts
and details of the investigation the moment he arrives at the crime
scene.
 As a rule, do not touch, alter or remove anything at the crime
scene until the evidence has been processed through notes,
sketches and photograph, with proper measurements.
c. Searching for evidence
o A general survey of the scene is always made, however, to note
the locations of obvious traces of action, the probable entry and
exit points used by the offender(s) and the size and shape of the
area involved.
o In rooms, buildings, and small outdoor areas, a systematic search
of evidence is initiated (In the interest of uniformity, it is
recommended that the clockwise movement be used.) The
investigator examines each item encountered on the floor, walls,
and ceiling to locate anything that may be of evidentiary value.
o If any doubt exists as to the value of an item, treat it as evidence
until proven otherwise.

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o Ensure that the item or area where latent fingerprints may be

present is closely examined and that action is taken to develop
the prints.
o Note stains, spots and pools of liquid within the scene and treat
them as evidence. Treat as evidence all other items, such as
hairs, fibers, and earth particles foreign to the area in which they
are found; for example, matter found under the victim’s
fingerprints.
o Proceed systematically and uninterruptedly to the conclusion of
the processing of the scene.
o In large outdoor areas, it is advisable to divide the area into
strips about four (4) feet wide.
o In a homicide case, the position of the victim should be outlined
with a chalk or any other suitable material before the body is
removed from the scene. If the victim has been pronounced dead
by a doctor or is obviously dead, it is usually advisable to examine
the body, the clothing and the area under the body after the
remainder of the scene has been searched.
d. Collection of Evidence
 This is accomplished after the search is completed, the rough
sketch finished and photographs taken.
 All firearms (FAs) found to have tampered serial numbers (SNs)
shall be automatically subjected to macro etching at the Philippine
National Police Crime Laboratory (PNP-CL).
 A corresponding request to the Firearms and Explosive Office
(FEO) must be made for verification purposes. The investigator
places his initials, the date and time of discovery on each item of
evidence for proper identification. Items that could not be marked
should be placed in a suitable container and sealed.

e. Markings of Evidence
 Any physical evidence obtained must be marked or tagged before
its submission to the evidence custodian.
 Markings on the specimen must at least contain the following:
o Exhibit Case Number
o Initials and or signature of the collecting officer.
o Time and date of collection.

NOTE: It is also important to note the place or location where the

evidence was collected.

f. Evaluation of Evidence
Each item of evidence must be evaluated in relation to all the
evidence, individually and collectively. If necessary, these pieces of
evidence must be subjected to crime laboratory examination.

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Example: firearms for ballistic examination, hair strands etc.

g. Preservation of Evidence
It is the investigator’s responsibility to ensure that every precaution
is exercised to preserve physical evidence in the state in which it was
recovered/ obtained until it is released to the evidence custodian.

h. Releasing of Evidence
All collected evidence can only be released upon order of the court
or prosecutor, as the case maybe.

i. Chain of Custody
 A list of all persons who came into possession of an item of
evidence, continuity of possession, or the chain of custody, must be
established whenever evidence is presented in court as an exhibit
 As a rule, all seized evidence must be in the custody of the evidence
custodian and deposited in the evidence room or designated place
for safekeeping.

j. Transmittal of Evidence to Crime Laboratory

 Proper handling of physical evidence is necessary to obtain the
maximum possible information upon which scientific examination
shall be based, and to prevent exclusion as evidence in court.

k. Release of Crime scene

 Release is accomplished only after completion of the final survey
and proper documentation.

3. Death Investigation
It deals with the postmortem investigation of sudden and unexpected death.

4. Homicide Investigation
Homicide Investigation is the official inquiry made by the police on the facts and
circumstances surrounding the death of a person which is expected to be unlawful.

4.1 Three bridges in homicide investigation which shall not be crossed:

a. That the dead body has been moved.
b. The cadaver has been embalmed
c. When the dead person is burned or cremated.

4.2 Establishing the Facts of Death

The first essential step of the homicide investigation is to establish that
the victim is, indeed, dead. Police officers do not have the legal authority to
pronounce death, only physicians/medical doctor can establish the fact of
death. For this reason, the police officer should never assume death unless

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the condition of the victim’s body demonstrates death in a totally obvious

manner.
4.2.1 Death – death is defined as the absence of life in a living matter.
4.2.2 Kinds of Death
a. Somatic Death – Clinical Death
It is a complete, continuous, persistent cessation of
respiration, circulation and almost all brain functions of an
organism. It is usually pronounced by a physician or other
members of the family.
b. Molecular Death- Cellular Death
It is the cessation of life of the individual cells in the whole
body, which occurs one at a time after somatic death.
c. Apparent Death – State of Suspended Animation
It is the state of temporary cessation of vital activities of the
body or vital processes were depressed to the minimum
compatible with life. This condition is not actually death
although classified under the kinds of death, because the
person or organism is still alive although it seems that there
are no signs of life.
4.2.3 Signs of Death
a. Cessation of respiration
b. Cessation of Heart Beating and Circulation
c. Cooling of the body
d. Insensibility of the body and loss of power to remove
e. Changes in the eyes
f. Changes in the skin

4.2.4 CAUSE OF DEATH - This is a specific medical diagnosis denoting

a disease or injury (e.g., myocardial infraction, strangulation, gunshot
wound).
a) PROXIMATE CAUSE OF DEATH
 The initial injury that led to a sequence of events, which
caused the death of the victim.
b) IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF DEATH
 The injury or disease that final killed the individual.
4.2.5 MANNER OF DEATH This determination deals with the legal
implications superimposed on biological cause and mechanism of death.
a. Accidental Death- Many types of death are associated with
this category, i.e., drowning, falling, motor vehicle wrecks,
accidental drug overdose, and so on. Often, homicide is
disguised to appear to be accidental in nature.
b. Natural Death- Death from natural causes includes heart
attack, stroke, disease, and old age. In many circumstances
the deceased will have been under doctor’s care, but often
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people are found and their mode of death is questionable. For

example, a person might have been forced to consume certain
drugs that can cause death, but the symptoms indicated death
from “natural” causes, e.g., heart attack.
c. Suicide- Methods of committing suicide are numerous and
include stabbing, shooting, drug overdose, and carbon
monoxide poisoning. As with other modes of death, the
investigator should be sure that the cause of death was
actually suicide and not homicide designed to look like suicide.
d. Homicide- The mode of death is homicide if one person has
intentionally caused another person to die. Many different
situations can result in a person’s death. These include the
following: gunshot wounds from firearms; stabbed, incised,
chopped, and punctured wounds; blunt-force injuries; and
extra ordinary modes of death such as poisoning and death
by asphyxia.
4.3 Death Scene Investigation
 For the pathologist and criminal investigator to perform a thorough
investigation, the death scene must be well documented.
 By understanding the role of the pathologist and the natural changes
that occur in the body after death, the criminal investigator
information that is useful to everyone involved in the investigation.

4.3.1 Forensic Pathology

It is the branch of medicine associated with the study of structural
changes in the body caused by disease or injury.

4.3.2 Role of Forensic Pathologist

a. Establishing cause of death.

b. Establishing manner of death.
c. Estimating the time of death.
d. Inferring the type of weapon used/
e. Establishing the identity of the deceased.
f. Determining the additive effect of trauma or pre-existing
conditions.
4.4 Terms encountered in Homicide
a. Homicide – The killing of one human being by another.
b. Sororicide – The act of one who kills his or her own sister.
c. Fratricide – The act of one who murders or kills his own brother
d. Matricide – Murder of a mother by her own child.
e. Patricide – The act of one who kill his own father.
f. Parricide – The act of one who murders a person to whom he is
related such as his parent, spouse, or child. This is a generic term.
g. Infanticide – The killing of an infant less than 3 days old

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h. Suicide – Taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally.

i. Uxoricide – Act of one who murder his wife.
j. Regicide – The killing or murder of a king
k. Vaticide – The murder of a prophet.
l. Euthanasia – Mercy killing or the act or practice of painlessly
putting to death persons suffering from incurable and distressing
disease.
m. Aborticide – Act of destroying a fetus in the womb. Better known
as abortion.

4.5 Post-mortem vs. Autopsy

 Post-Mortem Examination- it refers to an external examination of a
dead body without incision being made, although blood and other
body fluids may be collected for examination.

 Autopsy- a comprehensive study of a dead body performed by a

trained physician using recognized dissection procedures and
techniques, primarily to determine the true cause of death indicates
that, in addition to an external examination, the body is opened and
an internal examination is conducted

4.6 Post-Mortem Changes in the body

A. Algor Mortis (Body Cooling)
 General Rule: 1.5 degrees per hour – when room temperature is
about 70 degrees.
 Dr. Simpson: 25 Degrees an hour for the first 6 hours, and an
average of 1.5 to 2 degrees an hour over the first 12 hours.
 Dr. Rhodes, Gordon and Turner: 1.5 degrees for the first 12 hours
and 1 degree for the next 12 to 18 hours.
 Factors: Body temperature at the time of death;
- body size (fat, slower, child, faster; etc.); clothing or covering;
environmental
-temperature (wind and high humidity increase evaporation of
water and hasten cooling);
-immersion in water (good conductor).
B. POST-MORTEM LIVIDITY (Livor Mortis)–
 Discoloration of the body after death; setting of blood in the
dependent portions of the body following death).
 It is a reddish purple to purple coloration in dependent areas of the
body due to accumulation of blood in the small vessels of the
dependent areas secondary to gravity.
 This pooling of blood begins immediately after death and becomes
fixed in approximately 8-12 hours.
 The investigator can press on the skin in the dependent regions and
if the skin blanches, death has probably occurred less than 12 hours.
 This becomes fixed after a while and can tell if the body has been
moved. This is not a reliable indicator of time of death.
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 This is a better indicator of whether the body has been moved since
death.

a. The Color of Lividity may Indicate the Cause of Death:

 Carbon monoxide poisoning/ cyanide – cherry red to pinkish color
 Asphyxia – dark lividity
 Phosphorous poisoning – dark brown

b. Types of lividity
 Hypostatic – Blood is still in fluid form inside blood vessel; change
as position of the body changes. Blood remains fluid in the blood
vessel for 6- 8 hours.
 Diffusion– Coagulated inside blood vessel; Change in position will
not change its location.

c. Importance of Post-Mortem Lividity

 It is a sign of death
 It enables the investigator to estimate the time of death
 It determines the position of the body after death
 It may indicate the cause and manner of death

d. Characteristics of Post-Mortem Lividity

 It occurs in the most extensive areas of the most dependent
portion of the body.
 It involves the superficial layer of the skin, lungs, intestines,
kidneys, and brain.
 Color is uniform in the tissues.
 It is not elevated from the skin, lungs, intestines, kidneys and
brain.
 There is no injury to the tissues.
 The color may appear and disappear in the tissues by shifting the
position of the body in the earlier stages of death .
C. Primary Flaccidity
 immediately after death, there is complete relaxation and softening
of all the muscles of the body
 the muscles are relaxed and capable of contracting when stimulated
 there is incontinence of urination and defecation
 lasts about three to six hours after death
D. Post-Mortem Rigidity/ Rigor Mortis (Stiffening of Muscle Tissue)
Stiffening of the body after death and is characterized by hardening of
the muscles; the chemical reaction that causes rigidity in the muscle groups
or stiffening of the body after death due to the disappearance of Adenosine
Triphosphate (ATP) from the muscle.
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 General Rates (Average clothed adult; observable in small muscles

first);
 Detected within 2 to 4 hours.
 Completed within 6 to 12 hours.
 Remains for 12 to 18 hours.
 Begins to leave within 24 to 36 hours.
 Gone by 40 to 60 hours.

Exceptions: There temperature at death: high/low environmental

temperature (heat hastens, cold retards); strenuous muscular activity;
emotional excitement.

a. CONDITIONS SIMULATING RIGOR MORTIS

 Heat Stiffening- A condition characterized by hardening of the

muscles due to coagulation of muscle proteins when the dead
body is exposed to intense heat as burning or immersion in a hot
liquid. The muscle fiber will undergo shortening more than in rigor
mortis and this will result to a pugilistic attitude of the corpse
characterized by flexion of the neck, elbows, thighs, and knees. It
is Rigidity of muscles when exposed to above 75C.

 Cold Stiffening- A condition characterized by hardening of the

muscles due to solidification of fats, muscles and fluids when the
dead body is exposed to extremely cold or freezing temperature.

 Cadaveric Spasm or Instantaneous Rigor- It is the instant

stiffening of the muscle Instantaneous rigidity of the muscles at
the moment of death. It may indicate a struggle during death.

E. Secondary Flaccidity
 After the disappearance of rigor mortis, the muscle becomes soft and
flaccid, due to the dissolution of the muscle proteins which have
previously been coagulated during the period of rigor mortis.
 The body becomes limp again and the muscles are no longer capable
of responding to mechanical or electrical stimulus signals the start of
putrefaction or decomposition due to bacteria
 It is noted about 48 hours after death.

F. Post-Mortem Decomposition
1. AUTOLYSIS
 decomposition by enzymes

2. PUTREFACTION
 decomposition by bacteria

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 noted after 48 hours after death

 first appears as a greenish discoloration
 generalized swelling and reddish discoloration along the lines of
the superficial veins occur, called MARBLING

3. MUMMIFICATION
 dehydration by extreme dry heat
 the body becomes dry, brittle, dark brown

4. ADIPOCERE FORMATION OR SAPONIFICATION

 noted to occur after several months after death
 the fatty tissue of the body is replaced with a white greasy
product

5. MACERATION
 softening of the body when immersed in the water

6. SKELETONIZATION
 the reduction of the body to the skeletal form

SELF-HELP. You can also refer to the sources below to help you further
understand the lesson:

References:
a. Villaluz, J., (2014), Instructional module on special crime investigation, Quezon City:
Wiseman’s Books Trading
b. Sta. Ana, H. (2016), Special crime investigation, Quezon City: Chapterhouse
Publishing
c. Guevara, Ricardo M. (2014), Special crime investigation, 2nd, Quezon City:
Wiseman's Books Trading
d. Sabino-Diangson, Ruby Grace D. (2015), Legal Medicine, Quezon City: Chapterhouse
Publishing
e. Taylor, Jane, (2015), Forensic Odontology: Principles and Practice, 1st, John Wiley &
Sons
f. Santiago, Miriam Defensor, (2015), Penal code annotated: book 2, Manila: Rex Book
Store

Other Reference:
1. PNP Field Manual on Investigation of Crimes of Violence and Other Crimes (2011)
2. Revised PNP Operational Procedures (2013)

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