Japan formally handed over forensic equipment to the Philippines during a ceremony at the National Forensics Institute within the University of the Philippines College of Medicine.
Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo led the turnover, with the donation valued at approximately $133,000 (around PHP 7.58 million).
Funded through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the donation includes a mortuary refrigerator worth PHP 1.4 million, a body weighing scale, and a body cart.
The contribution aims to support Philippine authorities in establishing a more systematic approach to autopsies in cases involving deaths in custody.
The donated equipment is expected to enhance transparency, accountability, and the quality of forensic investigations in the Philippines.
Officials from both countries emphasized the role of international cooperation in addressing complex legal and human rights issues.
Philippine authorities expressed appreciation for the support, noting its significance in improving investigative outcomes and reinforcing institutional efforts in handling custodial death cases.