A up RESEARCH GUIDEBOOK

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cities across different political regions. Hence, our team is presently working towards the
inclusion of all Philippine groups – regional and those belonging to indigenous communities –
in the Philippine population database. We envisioned this database, inclusive of all Filipinos,
as a better tool for statistical evaluation of forensic DNA evidence. Moreover, datamining the
information that would be generated can be used to better understand the genetic variation
across all Philippine groups. Like in other countries, population genetic studies such as what
we had started and would continue to pursue, are expected to contribute to health research in
the field of pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine.
In-depth analysis of genetic data would also help us understand the genetic history of
different Filipino groups - including our genetic relationships among ourselves and other
people in the Asia-Pacific region. To date, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(NCIP) has partnered with universities and non-governmental organizations in documenting
and assisting indigenous groups to preserve their own languages, music, dances and culture.
Given the information that can now be mined from genetic data, we hope to contribute to
these projects and work with NCIP in protecting the cultural heritage of all Filipino groups.
Because DNA forensics is a relatively new science in the Philippines, there is much work that
needs to be done. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of forensic practitioners especially those in
DNA forensics. The Philippine government does not allocate sufficient budget for forensics.
Time and again, law enforcement personnel had to stop processing samples due to delays in
the procurement of chemicals and reagents for analysis. In fact, the UPD-NSRI-DAL received
funding from the national budget only twice in its 20-year history: in 1996 through Philippine
Vice President Estrada and in 2009 through Congressman Lorenzo Tañada III. Much of our
extension work was funded by those who had requested for DNA tests and by generous
donors.
DNA-based filiation testing is usually requested to support claims for child support,
inheritance, immigration and for peace in the family 21 . Genetic testing had become the
procedure of choice over blood typing because of the increased level of polymorphism and the
lower susceptibility of DNA molecules to degradation compared to proteins 22 . At present, we
use 20 autosomal DNA markers for conventional parentage cases 23,24 , and the DNA evidence
that we have generated, is now being used in increasing numbers to support or argue against
parentage in Philippine courts 25,26 . Initially, the strength of DNA tests rested primarily on its
power to exclude the wrong person alleged to be a parent of the child. However, the rapid
21 De Ungria, M. C. A., et al. (2002). "Evaluating DNA tests of motherless cases using a Philippine genetic
database." Transfusion 42(7): 954-957.
22 De Ungria, M. C. A., et al. (2002). "Resolving ten cases of disputed parentage using a Philippine genetic
database." Science Diliman 14(1): 8-16.
23 Maiquilla, S. M. B., et al. (2011). "Expansion of the Philippine Autosomal Short Tandem Repeat
Population Dabatase for DNA-based Paternity Testing." Philippine Journal of Science 140(1): 1-6.
24 Rodriguez, J. J. R. B., et al. (2015). "Allele frequencies of 23 Autosomal Short Tandem Repeat Loci in
the Philippine Population." Legal Medicine 17(4): 295-297.
25 De Ungria, M. C. A., et al. (2001). "DNA evidence in Philippine courts: a case report." Philippine Law
Gazette 13(3): 46-49.
26 De Ungria, M. C. A. (2005). "DNA Evidence in Paternity Cases." Philippine Law Journal 80(2): 1-11.