A newly-inaugurated Crime Laboratory Satellite Office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) now props up the Valenzuela City SOCO or Scene of the Crime Operatives in tracking down perpetrators of complex and high-profile crimes.

The SOCO office which will serve as the satellite office for the Northern Police District (NPD) or the whole CAMANAVA is equipped with advanced forensic tools provided by the City Government. It will be manned by 18 specialists from the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory composed of a team leader, a forensic chemical officer, medico-legal officers, a serology examiner, fingerprint technicians, polygraph examiners, a cartographer or sketch artist, photographer, evidence custodian and records custodian. These personnel, though holds office in Valenzuela, are all under the direct supervision of P/CSUPT Lorlie N. Arroyo of the PNP Crime Laboratory Group in Camp Crame.

To guarantee the efficiency of the Crime Lab, an Isuzu Crosswind vehicle worth Php 833,700 was also turned over by the City Government to the Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS) for the use of the SOCO team during its inauguration recently.

Mayor WIN said that the new facility of the VCPS is “a dream come true” for him, with his hopes of modernizing the local police force by gearing them up to be at par with global standards in the field of forensic science.  “It is a big boost for our local police to have their own Crime Laboratory to process evidence and track down criminals at the soonest possible time. With all these improvements at hand, I therefore challenge the Valenzuela Police to do their best in lessening the percentage of crime in Valenzuela City,” he said.

The City Government through the local Peace and Order Council under the leadership of Mayor WIN, has been implementing the “Valenzuela Police Station Capability Enhancement Program.”

The very rationale of the program is to uphold the morale of the police force and at the same time invest on their mobility in order for them to cover a larger area, respond swiftly to emergency situation, and pursue criminal elements without delay.  The program ensured that VCPS will be effective in fulfilling these expectations by providing them with the necessary equipment.

In order to concretely carry this out, the City Government of Valenzuela provided the VCPS vehicles and gears, such as firearms, handheld radios, vests, among others; as well as, office equipment, and their new headquarters.  “The SOCO office is a new addition to these huge support of Mayor WIN to the Valenzuela City Police force over the years,” Valenzuela City Police Chief, P/SSUPT Atty. Wilben Mayor said.

He also shared that the idea of opening a Crime Lab in Valenzuela City came from P/CSUPT Arroyo herself when she visited the VCPS in its inauguration last year.  She hailed Mayor WIN for the support to the Philippine National Police, particularly to the Crime Laboratory division, and pledged her support by extending her expertise to jumpstart operations of the new Crime Lab in Valenzuela City.

“With all the help from the City Government, VCPS will definitely be one of the most outstanding police stations in the country.  The new Crime Lab will significantly augment the cases handled by other satellite offices and we are thankful that Mayor WIN sees the need to put up a facility here,” P/SSUPT Arroyo said.

By protocol, the forensic specialists or SOCO team of the Crime Laboratory are requested in cases where the crime scene needs special processing due to its significance or because of its sensational nature.  The SOCO team helps in determining the true nature of the crime and assist in tracking down perpetrators with the use of evidence gathered.

Valenzuela City, with its own Crime Lab and team of forensic specialists, the investigation process of crime cases will significantly speed up even more by conducting forensic investigation locally without the need to course the process through the Central Crime Lab in Camp Crame or other satellite offices.

The Director of the Northern Police District Office, P/CSUPT Antonio L. Decano also showed his full support by his presence during the said inauguration.