The National Bureau of Investigation presented their findings on the analysis and comparison of the fingerprints of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping during the hearing on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) before the Senate committee on women and children on Wednesday to finally cast away doubts on its result.
Dactyloscopy Division Chief Alfredo Kahanding explained the nature of fingerprint science and its importance in individual identification especially in criminal investigation.
“I would like to tell you that this (fingerprint) identification is a unique identification that is given to us by the Almighty. Ito po ang identification ng tao by means of skin patterns. Sa tao lang po binigay ng Diyos ‘yan,” he said.
According to Kahanding, fingerprints are a person’s “positive,” “unique” and “absolute perfect identification.”
It is practically “infallible” and “incapable of error.”
Kahanding noted that they follow three dogmatic principles in fingerprint science.
The principle of permanency suggests that fingerprints are immutable, perennial and individual observed from the beginning of the third month of the embryonic period until decomposition sets in after death.
“Hindi po siya magbabago mula nung pinanganak po tayo hanggang ngayon, size lang po ang magbabago,” he said.
The principle of variation says no two prints of different persons nor the neighboring fingers of the same person have ever been found to be identical in all respects.
“Bilyon po ang tao sa mundo wala po tayong magkatulad na fingerprints, even identical twins, triplets, quintuplets o kahit ilan pa pong bata ang sabay sabay ipinanganak wala pa rin pong magkakatulad na finger prints,” he said.
“Kahit yung isang tao po sa sampung daliri mo wala pa rin pong magkakatulad diyan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the principle of infallibility means one’s fingerprint cannot be forged.
“You can alter your signature, your handwriting, you can forge your handwriting but you cannot forge your fingerprints,” he said.
That’s why fingerprints are the best signature, he added.
The NBI said they are absolutely certain with the credibility of their findings and all local courts accept it as admissible evidence. This means there is no need for a third party intervention to further verify.
Findings
Kahanding showed that the fingerprint specimens of Guo submitted by the Board on Investments through the senate matched with the record in the NBI master files with 11 identical points.
Meanwhile, the fingerprints of Wesley Leal Guo, the mayor’s brother, also matched with the specimen also from the BI with that of Chinese national Guo Xiang Dian with 17 identical points.
Kahanding noted that in analysis and comparison of standard fingerprints, one print is enough to identify a person. Furthermore, they also determine the exact location and position of the characteristics found inside the fingerprint pattern.
Kahanding said that in the Philippines, 10 identical ridge characters are being used as a basis to conclude that standard fingerprints belong to one and the same person.
Also, Guo’s fingerprint matched the alien finger print of Guo Hua Ping docketed in the NBI masterfiles dated March 28, 2006 with 18 identical ridge characteristics.
“Kaya sure po tayo ngayon na si Alice Guo at si Guo Hua Ping ay iisang tao lamang po. Si Wesley ganun din po at si Guo Xiang Dian ay isang tao lang po,” he said.
