Academic officials led by Chancellor Michael Tee (6th from left) and UP President Angelo Jimenez led the groundbreaking activity of the National Forensics Institute. Also in the photo are Hae Kyong Yu, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines (8th from right) and Jonvic Remulla, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (3rd from right). MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Jimenez affirmed UP’s commitment to working with the government in advancing reforms in the country’s justice system as the National Forensics Institute (NFI) was launched in UP Manila on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. “This is more than an academic endeavor; this is a national imperative to strengthen our justice system and elevate the country’s expertise in forensic medicine,” Jimenez stated. The NFI project launch, led by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, was also aended by Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin Remulla, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu, Monash University Senior Vice President Craig Jeffrey, as well as officials from UP Manila led by Chancellor Michael Tee. “We thank our national leaders and Australian Ambassador HK Yu for believing that UP Manila will deliver on our national commitment to strengthen the country's justice system and expertise in the field of forensics. The Master of Science in Forensic Medicine is our initial contribution to this national effort,” Tee said. UP Manila is a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the establishment of the NFI in accordance with Administrative Order No. 29 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on January 22, 2025. The TWG also includes the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Budget and Management, Commission on Higher Education, and the Presidential Human Rights Commiee Secretariat.In line with the TWG’s efforts, UP Manila and Monash University of Australia inked a memorandum of understanding on October 24, 2024, for the joint development of the new Master of Science in Forensic Medicine program, an initiative supported and co-funded by the Australian government. Jimenez underscored that the new program is “part of a broader national effort to address the urgent need for a comprehensive forensic medicine program — one that advances justice and protects human rights.” New academic programs in UP go through a rigorous and often lengthy approval process. The proposed program was approved by the UP Manila University Council on June 16, 2025, and it has been submitted to the UP Board of Regents for final approval. UP eyes offering the program starting in the upcoming academic year’s first semester, according to Jimenez.The new program will be taught by faculty members from the two institutions, including Dr. Raquel Fortun and Dr. Cecilia Lim, the only two forensic pathologists in the Philippines, as well as UP faculty specializing in areas such as anthropology, toxicology, and law.Jimenez hoped the program would train and produce more forensic medicine experts in the country, build and enhance the capacity of law enforcement to conduct science-based investigations in line with international standards such as the Minnesota Protocol, and promote a human rights-based governance that values transparency, justice, and accountability. “We look forward to shaping the minds and character of the next generation of forensic scientists — mga Iskolar ng Bayan na magsisilbi nang may integridad, at magtatanggol ng karapatang pantao nang may husay at dangal, tungo sa ating hangad na Bagong Pilipinas,” Jimenez said. The establishment of the NFI is among the Philippine government’s key pledges during the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland on December 10, 2023, which it reaffirmed with the conclusion of the United Nations Joint Programme on human rights in July 2024. Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu “May this institution flourish and fulfill its noble mission of advancing forensic science in the service of truth, justice, and human dignity,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said during the program. Photos by:  Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit and Charmaine Lingdas FP9 #DiscoveryandResearch #AccessibleUPLeadership #Environmentthatnurturesourmindandbody