GOAL
The purpose of this lecture is to provide
PNP personnel and students better
understanding of the importance of Firearms
Testing, and current programs to enhance
forensic firearms identification capability of the
PNP, as provided under the PNP reform
initiatives.
Firearms Identification
“A discipline of forensic
science which has as its primary
concern to determine if a bullet,
cartridge case or other ammunition
component was fired by a particular
firearm” (AFTE Definition).
FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
Mission:
“The Firearms Identification Division (FAID) shall
provide technical and scientific investigative aid to
PNP Units, AFP and other investigative agencies
of the government in so far as forensic
examination and identification of particular firearm
used in the commission of crime”.
FUNCTIONS
FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
is one of the “Core Competencies” of the PNP
Forensic Group devoted to the specific discipline of
forensic firearms investigation and identification.
A discipline of forensic science which has as its
primary concern to determine if a bullet, cartridge case
or other ammunition component was fired by a particular
firearm.
FUNCTIONS
• Examines evidence firearms, fired bullets/cartridge cases and
other ammunition components to identify particular firearm used
in the commission of crime;
FUNCTIONS
• Conducts test firing of evidence firearms to obtain standard
bullets and cartridge cases for comparative examination;
• Conducts stenciling and test firing of the newly procured
firearms to obtain test bullets and cartridge cases; and to be
part as registered firearms database; as mandated under Sec
15.2 of R.A. 10591 known as Comprehensive Firearms and
Ammunition Law
FUNCTIONS
• Conducts encoding of the evidence bullets/cartridge cases and
standard bullets/cartridge cases into Firearms Identification
System for correlation with the previously encoded of bullets
and cartridge cases to look for possible match; as mandated
under Sec 34.2 of R.A. 10591known as “Comprehensive
Firearms and Ammunition Law”
FUNCTIONS
• Performs Scene of Crime Operations or Field Laboratory
Works relative to cases involving firearms;
• Appears to testify in the court of law as Expert witness;
• Conducts lectures to various PNP and military training schools,
government agencies including public and private educational
institutions regarding forensic firearms examination and
identification; and
• Performs other functions as directed by the Director, Forensic
Group.
OBJECTIVES OF FIREARMS TESTING
• To obtain reliable standard bullets and cartridge
cases of firearms;
• To make use of it to support the forensic
investigative capability of the PNP and its Anti
Crime Capability Enhancement Program on
Firearms Control ;
• Encode these test bullets and cartridge cases
into the Firearms Identification System or IBIS to
be form part of the registered database;
• Future reference for examination and cross
matching; and
• For presentation in court as evidence.
GUIDELINES AND POLICIES
• CL, OPR
• C, FEO in coordination of Firearms
Manufacturer/s and Dealer/s
• FAID personnel
• Approved Site
• Schedule of prevailing Ballistics testing fee
GUN
MANUFACTURER/
DEALER
FLOWCHART
COORDINATION
Forensic
FEO Group
FAID
New Firearms Imported
Renewal/ PTCFOR PTCFOR-LEA
from local Firearms from
Manufacturers Dealers Transfer
Ballistics Testing/Stenciling
Request for Testing Request for Testing a. FG Testing Area
from FED from FED SBR from
b. PNP Training Service
OP from FG OP from FG LBP@PH250 Escorted by FED
c. Off Crame Testing Area
SBR from Ballistics Testing and
LBP@Ph250 Stenciling by FG at the PNP Database
Manufacturer’s Site
Cross Matching and
encoding into the IBIS
FG Storage
PROCEDURES
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
PROCEDURES
DOCUMENTATION
PROCEDURES
GUN SAFETY
PROCEDURES
STENCILING
PROCEDURES
STENCILING
PROCEDURES
STENCILING
PROCEDURES
MARKINGS OF THE TEST
PROCEDURES
MARKINGS OF THE TEST
PROCEDURES
Example: Caliber.45 Colt M1911A1 Pistol with
SN: 123423 Markings:
T-23-1 T-23-2 T-23-3 T-23-4
“T-23-1” for 1st test
“T-23-2” for 2nd test
T-23-1 T-23-2 T-23-3 T-23-4 “T-23-3” for 3rd test
“T-23-4” for 4th test
The cartridges for
testing should be
marked for future
NEVER mark on the base identification
MARKINGS OF THE TEST
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
PROCEDURES
TEST FIRING
Cal .50 BMG Fired bullet and Fired Cartridge
TEST FIRING
Cal .50 BMG Fired bullet and Fired Cartridge
TEST FIRING
Cal .50 BMG Fired bullet
Cal .50 BMG Fired bullet and Fired Cartridge
PROCEDURES
PACKAGING AND LABELLING
PROCEDURES
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
FIREARMS TESTED
Nov 7, 2007 to Jan 13, 2023
EO 585 & 817 - 65,141
PTCFOR/LEA - 1,890
Commercial - 707,920
BJMP - 2,544
PNP - 240,376
AFP - 215,587
1,233,458 Total FAs Tested
Integrated Ballistics Identification System
(IBIS)
What does IBIS do?
PROCEDURES
ENCODES
PROCEDURES
Correlation and Match Point
PROCEDURES
Forensic Examination
PROCEDURES
Forensic Examination
FIREARM
Is any instrument used for the
propulsion of projectiles by means
of expansive force of gasses coming
from burning gunpowder.(technical
definition)
FIREARM
Under Section 877 of the Revised
Administrative Code & Section 290 of the National
Internal Revenue Code:
Firearms or arms as herein used, includes
rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns, pistols,
revolvers, and all other deadly weapons from which
bullets, balls, shots, shells, or other missiles may be
discharged by means of gunpowder or other
explosives. This term also includes air rifles except
such as being of small caliber and of limited
range used as toys. The barrel of any firearm shall
be considered as a complete firearm for all
purposes hereof.
RA 10591
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LAW ON FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF
Section 3 para I. Firearms refer to any
handheld or any portable weapon, whether a
small arm or light weapon, that expels or is
designed to expel a bullet, shot, slug. Missile
or any projectile, which is discharged by
means of expansive force of gas from burning
gun powder or other form of combustion or
any similar instrument or implement. For
purposes of this Act, the barrel, frame or
receiver is considered a firearm.
LIGHT WEAPONS
• Class-A Light weapons which refer
to self-loading pistols, rifles and
carbines, submachine guns, assault
rifles and light machine guns not
exceeding caliber 7.62MM which
have fully automatic mode
LIGHT WEAPONS
• Class-B Light weapons which refer to
weapons designed for use by two (2) or more
persons serving as a crew, or rifles and
machine guns exceeding caliber 7.62MM
such as heavy machine guns, handheld
under barrel and mounted grenade
launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns,
portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles,
portable launchers of anti-tank missile and
rocket systems, portable launchers of anti-
aircraft missile systems, and mortars of a
caliber of less than 100MM.
SMALL ARMS
Small arms refer to firearms
intended to be or primarily designed for
individual use or that which is generally
considered to mean a weapon intended
to be fired from the hand or shoulder,
which are not capable of fully automatic
bursts of discharge, such as:
Handgun
- which is a firearm intended to be fired from the hand,
which includes:
a. A pistol which is a hand-operated
firearm having a chamber integral with or permanently
aligned with the bore which may be self-loading; and
Revolver
b. which is a hand-operated firearm with a revolving cylinder containing chambers
for individual cartridges.
Rifle
- which is a shoulder firearm or designed to be fired
from the shoulder that can discharge a bullet through
a rifled barrel by different actions of loading, which
may be classified as lever, bolt, or self-loading.
Shotgun
3. which is a weapon designed, made and intended to fire a number of ball shots or a
single projectile through a smooth bore by the action or energy from burning
gunpowder.
Section 34. Tampering, Obliteration or Alteration of Firearms
Identification.
– The penalty of prision correctional to prision
mayor in its minimum period shall be imposed upon
any person who shall tamper, obliterate or alter
without authority the barrel, slide, frame, receiver,
cylinder or bolt assembly, including the name of the
maker, model, or serial number of any firearm, or
who shall replace without authority the barrel, slide,
frame, receiver, cylinder, or bolt assembly including
its individual or peculiar identifying
characteristics essential in forensic examination
of a firearm or light weapon.
AMMUNITION/CARTRIDGE
• Refers to a complete unfired unit
consisting of bullet, gunpowder cartridge
case, and primer or loaded shell for use in
any firearm.
What makes one firearms different
from the others?
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
- Those characteristics that are determinable prior to the manufacture
of the firearms. These characteristics are the factory specifications
and are with in the control of man and they serve as basis to
identify a certain group or class of firearms.
a. Bore Diameter/Caliber
b. Number of Lands and Grooves
c. Width of Lands
d. Width of Grooves
e. Direction of Twist
f. Pitch of Rifling caliber
g. Depth of Grooves
Two bullets with the same class characteristics
a. d. Twist of the rifling
b. Width of lands and grooves
Caliber
c. Number of lands and groovese. Other Class Characteristics
Caliber
5 - Right
Angle of
Twist
Cannelure
Landmark Width Note: Weight and length of the bullets is disregardedGroove Width
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Those characteristics markings peculiar in a
particular firearm and which are not found in all other
firearms. They serve to identify a particular firearm.
These are determinable only after the
manufacture of the firearm. They are characteristics
whose existence is beyond the control of the
manufacturer. And which have random distribution
inside the gun. Their existence in a firearm is
brought about by the tools used in their manufacture,
in their normal operation resulting through wear and
tear, abuse, mutilations, corrosion, erosion and other
fortuitous causes.
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
PRINCIPLES OF FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION
• Two things marked by one and the same tool will bear the
same markings. Likewise, no two or more things marked
by two different tools will bear the same marking
Breech face
Firing Pin
Ejector INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE
Extractor BARREL
MARKING OF EVIDENCE
Markings a Revolver
Cylinder (example:
engraved marked
“ABC” “01-08-18”
Barrel, (example:
engraved marked
“ABC” “01-08-18”
Frame, (example:
engraved marked
“ABC” “01-08-18”
Markings a Revolver
Slide, (example:
engraved marked
“ABC” “01-08-18”
On the barrel,
(example: engraved
marked “ABC” “01-08-18”
Frame or receiver
(example: engraved
marked “ABC” “01-08-18”
Markings a Rifle
Barrel,
Upper receiver, (example: engraved
(example: engraved marked “ABC” “01-08-18”
marked “ABC” “01-08-18”
Bolt,
(example: engraved marked
“ABC” “01-08-18”
Lower receiver,
(example: engraved
marked “ABC” “01-08-18”
Mark also the attached accessory kit ( scope,
grenade launcher, flashlight, sound
suppressor/silencer and others)
Scope
(example: engraved
marked “ABC” “01-08-18”
Grenade Launcher,
Magazine (example: (example: engraved
engraved marked “ABC” marked “ABC” “01-08-18”
“01-08-18”
Markings a Fired Bullet
bullet base
example:
engraved
marked “ABC”
On the nose NEVER MARK ON THE BODY
example: engraved
marked “ABC”
Mark a fired cartridge case outside
near open mouth or inside near open mouth and on
the body
Inside, near open mouth
Outside, near open mouth
example: engraved
marked “ABC-1”
If badly deformed or fragment, never on the
bearing surface where striations are present
bullet base example: Note: Do not marked on
engraved marked “ABC” rifling's area
Preservation of Evidence Fired
Bullet and Fired Cartridge Cases
TAGGING AN EVIDENCE FIREARM
EVIDENCE EXAMINATION/
IDENTIFICATION
Evidence Fired Bullet
• Determination of the caliber, type
and make of firearm from where it
was fired.
Evidence Fired Cartridge Case
• Determination of the caliber and
type of firearm from where it
was fired.
Two or more evidence
fired cartridge cases
• Determination whether or not the said
cartridge cases were fired from one
and the same firearm.
Two or more evidence
fired bullets
• Determination whether the said
bullets were fired from one and the
same firearm.
Evidence Fired Bullets and
suspected firearm
• Determination whether the bullet
was fired from the said firearm.
Evidence Fired Cartridge
Cases and suspected firearm
• Determination whether the spent
shell was fired from the said firearm.
FIREARMS
• Serviceability tests
Ammunition
• Serviceability tests
SHOT PELLETS, BUCKSHOTS OT SLUGS
Examination can determine the shot size and
the gauge of the slug
WADS
LEAD PELLETS
RIFLED SLUG
SERVICE PLEDGE
Note: The duration of examination and release of laboratory reports may be extended
depending on the following factors:
1. Cross-matching of the submitted evidence with other shooting incidents;
2. Availability of standard specimen and equipment;
3. Quantity and the condition of the specimen; and
4. Other external factors
RELATED LABORATORY
EXAMINATIONS
For GPR examination by
Chemistry Division
For SEROLOGY examination by
Medico Legal Division
Fuming Box (for developing latent
prints)examination by Fingerprint Division
Defaced Serial number
For Macro-Etching examination
( Restoration of serial numbers)
by Physical Identification Division
PREPARATION OF REQUEST
FOR FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION
1. Must be addressed for the Director, Forensic Group Attn:
C, Firearms Identification Division if will be submitted to
National Headquarters Forensic Group or for the District
Chief Forensic Unit if will be submitted to District Forensic
Units, Attn: C, FAIS
2. Subject : Request for Firearms Identification/ Request for
Ballistics Examination
3. Evidence or pieces of evidence to be submitted must be
described clearly in the request including the identifying
marks
ex. 1. One (1) caliber .45 ARMSCOR M1911A1 pistol with
serial number 101101 marked “ABC”
2. One (1) fired bullet marked “DEF”
4. Mark and enumerate pieces of evidence:
a . according to the caliber of firearm and shell, and
size of the fired bullet
b. according to the condition of the
specimen
5. Request letter must contain the 5W’s and 1H. As much as
possible, indicate the status of the victim and the suspect, if
determined.
THINGS TO BE OBSERVED BEFORE, DURING
and AFTER COLLECTION OF PIECES OF
BALLISTICS EVIDENCE
• In case a FIREARM is found at the crime scene, take
note of the details of firearm e.i. caliber, make, type and
other pertinent facts including its original position and/or
condition.
• Before collection, be sure to properly document the
evidence firearm such photograph, sketch with
corresponding measurements, and video if available.
• Observe utmost care to preserve any latent prints. If
other biological or trace evidence is found on the
firearm, do not contaminate.
• During collection, be sure to wear gloves when picking
up the evidence firearm. Handle it on the checkered or
serrated parts especially when dusting is not yet done.
• Always observe safety. Check first whether the firearm
is loaded. If loaded, unload it pointing the muzzle end at
a safe direction. Record and separate the cartridge
removed from the chamber.
• Record and separate the cartridges left on the
magazine, if any.
• Mark the evidence firearm, cartridges removed from the
chamber and from the magazine
• Place the evidence firearm in a small box to preserve
other trace evidence, if not yet processed.
• Do not insert anything on the barrel.
• Never disassemble, replace, or remove any parts of the
gun.
• Record the time, date and place of recovery.
• If FIRED SHELL if found, record the details of the spent
shell such as the caliber, manufacturers design, and
date that can be found on the head stamp. If FIRED
BULLET is found, take note of its appearance or any
observation (ex. deformed, fragmented)
• Document the evidence bullet and shell e.i.
photograph, sketch with measurement
• Record the time, date and place of
recovery
• Mark separately.
• Wrap with small paper and place in a small
sachet or envelope for fired shell or small
vial/container for fired bullet.
Equipment's used in
Forensic Firearms
Identification
BULLET COMPARISON MICROSCOPE
An optical instrument made up of two
microscopes connected to an optical
bridge, which allows the viewer to observe
two objects simultaneously with the same
degree of magnification. This instrument
can have a monocular or binocular
eyepiece. It is also known as a
“Comparison Microscope”.
BULLET COMPARISON MICROSCOPE
BULLET RECOVERY SYSTEM
A system which enables the examiner to recover undamaged fired
bullets. Water tanks and Cotton Boxes are the most commonly used methods.
ANALYTICAL BALANCE
Use for measuring bullet weight, cartridge case and other ammunition
components.
CALIPER
A device consisting of two moveable legs or jaws, which are used to measure
diameter, thickness, or distance between two surfaces.
BULLET PULLER
An instrument that measures the force required to extract a bullet from
live ammunition or a tool used to remove bullets from live ammunition.
STEREO MICROSCOPE
This is an optical instrument that allows viewing of an object
through an objective lens and eyepiece. Some models are known
to share a common main objective.
RELEASING EVIDENCE TO INVESTIGATING
UNIT/ INDIVIDUAL PARTY
a. Court Order
b. Authenticated Photocopy of updated Firearms Registration
from FEO OR Property Acknowledgement Receipt (PAR) from
the Supply Accountable Officer (SAO) of the concerned office.
c. Certification from the investigating office stating among
others that there is no case filed or to be filed against anybody
involving subject firearms as evidence.
d. Duty status and no pending administrative case for PNP,
BJMP, BFP and AFP personnel involving offense related to the
subject firearm.
e. Photocopy of License To Own and Possess Firearms
(LTOPF) of registered owner and clear copy of valid
government identification card.
f. Authorization letter from the requesting party authorizing a
representative to withdraw and receive on the behalf, the subject
firearm.
g. Additional document as the case/situation may require.
h. No evidence firearms and related specimen should be released
to the requesting party unless all requirements stated under
paragraph “a” thru “f” are submitted. The release must be covered
by a receipt where the authority, time, date of release, signatories
and disposition pertaining to the release are reflected; and
i. No evidence firearm shall be released unless recommended by
the Chief, Firearms Identification Division, witnessed by one (1)
Firearms Examiner, approved by the Director, PNP Forensic
Group or the Chief of the concerned PNP FG field office, and
cleared for the released by the Office of the Evidence Custodian.
For Inquiry Call:
Firearms Identification Division, PNP
Forensic Group, Camp Crame, Quezon City
723-0401 loc. 7215/ 7238
