UN expert to launch forensic program for gov’t doctors, authorities — Remulla

Forensic expert and United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Dr. Morris Tidball-Binz will launch a program to improve the capacity of government doctors and authorities on forensic pathology in the country, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday.

“We invited Dr. Tidball-Binz to come over, to help us build capacity so that we will have program for the doctors of the government, the police, the [National Bureau of Investigation], probably the military doctors to have special courses in forensic pathology,” Remulla said in an an ambush interview.

This is to build the government’s capacity to handle situations like untimely deaths, he added.

Remulla said that the forensic pathology seminars will run for 14 to 21 days twice this year.

As the program is under the UN Joint Programme (UNJP), Remulla said the Philippines is asking the international organization to fund it to ensure its continuity.

On Tuesday morning, Remulla and Tidball-Binz met to discuss the capacity building program.

“We expect him to come back maybe in May to August for the program itself of capacity building,” Remulla said.

He added Tidball-Binz is also set to talk to civil society organizations in the country.

Remulla also said the issue of extrajudicial killings in the country was not discussed during the meeting. 

On November 13, 2022,  Remulla met with Tidball-Binz in Geneva where he attended the Universal Peer Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The Justice secretary then invited the UN Special Rapporteur and asked the latter's help “in assisting the law enforcement agencies in the Philippines to investigate cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances” in the Philippines.

“He has provided closure for families of victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. We are hoping for the same when he visits the Philippines,” Remulla added.

Tidball-Binz is expected stay in the country until February 9.—Joviland Rita/AOL/VBL, GMA Integrated News