The province of Negros Oriental is in need of medico-legal doctors, sketch artists, pathologists and polygraph examiners, National Bureau of Investigation chief Dominador Cimafranca said.

Cimafranca raised the concern at a forum of the Metro Dumaguete Peace Advocates, Tuesday, held at the press club building, Rizal Boulevard , Dumaguete City .

He said this request has fallen on deaf ears, despite the rising incidents that need their expertise.

The City Health Office can now only conduct post-mortem examinations, and the scientific autopsy has to be conducted by a licensed pathologist through microscopic examinations of body tissues, Cimafranca added.

In most instances, investigations of cases are delayed because experts in suspects' sketches are in Cebu or Manila .

In one case, the NBI had to get a cartographer from Dipolog City , he said.

He also said the NBI is willing to train medico-legal officers but the local government units should shoulder the expenses.

Cimafranca said the training will be conducted for six months in Manila , but that it is better that it should either be the city or the province that will employ these medico-legal officers.

Negros Oriental PNP director, S/Supt. Melvin Buenafe, said he will communicate with his superiors for the assignment of a polygraph examiner in the province.*JG

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