Preserving Evidence Integrity: Assessing Chain of Custody Issues in Tagaytay City Criminal Cases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11594/Keywords:
Chain of custody issues, criminal cases in Tagaytay city, evidence integrity, investigators’ perspectivesAbstract
This study explores the challenges faced by investigators in Tagaytay City, Cavite, in maintaining evidence integrity through the chain of custody. Conducted in 2025, it employed a qualitative descriptive design using structured interviews with purposively selected investigators at the Tagaytay City Satellite PNP SOCO Forensic Office. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis to uncover recurring issues in evidence handling.
Findings revealed multiple challenges, including inconsistencies in investigator training, inadequate resources, and deficiencies in documentation practices. Many investigators demonstrated limited understanding of chain of custody protocols, resulting in procedural errors that compromise evidence reliability in court. Environmental factors such as extreme weather conditions and insufficient storage facilities further complicated the preservation of sensitive materials. Weak inter-agency collaboration, stemming from unclear communication and undefined roles, also hindered effective joint investigations.
The study recommends tailored training programs on digital evidence handling and environmental preservation techniques to strengthen investigator competency, adoption of digital documentation systems to minimize human error, and establishment of clear inter-agency protocols. Upgrading evidence storage facilities and securing supplemental funding through public–private partnerships are also proposed to resolve resource constraints. It underscores the need for systematic improvements in evidence handling practices to safeguard justice. By addressing identified challenges and adopting the recommended strategies, law enforcement agencies in Tagaytay City can enhance operational efficiency and ensure that evidence is preserved and presented with the highest integrity. The study contributes valuable insights into the critical role of effective chain of custody management within the Philippine criminal justice system.
Downloads
References
Adeniyi, N. a. O., Akpuokwe, N. C. U., Bakare, N. S. S., & Eneh, N. N. E. (2024). GENDER EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE: A COM-PARATIVE REVIEW OF USA AND AFRI-CAN PRACTICES. International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Re-search, 6(3), 526–539. https://doi.org/10.51594/ijmer.v6i3.842
Ahluwalia, J. K., & Sharma, R. (2023). The role of forensic science in criminal investiga-tion. International Journal for Multidisci-plinary Research, 5(6). https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2023.v05i06.9530
Ahmad, L., Khanji, S., Iqbal, F., & Kamoun, F. (2020). Blockchain-based chain of custo-dy. ARES. https://doi.org/10.1145/3407023.3409199
Albeedan, M., Kolivanda, H., & Hammady, R. (2024). Designing and evaluation of a mixed reality system for crime scene in-vestigation training: a hybrid approach. Virtual Reality, 28(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-024-01018-8
Alketbi, S. K. (2024). DNA Contamination in Crime Scene Investigations: Common Er-rors, Best Practices, and Insights from a Survey Study. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4979243
Almakhmatovich, R.B. (2019). EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL PROCEED-INGS. International Journal of Research, 6, 146-151.
Alzubaidi, L., Bai, J., Al-Sabaawi, A., Santama-ría, J., Albahri, A. S., Al-Dabbagh, B. S. N., Fadhel, M. A., Manoufali, M., Zhang, J., Al-Timemy, A. H., Duan, Y., Abdullah, A., Farhan, L., Lu, Y., Gupta, A., Albu, F., Ab-bosh, A., & Gu, Y. (2023). A survey on deep learning tools dealing with data scarcity: definitions, challenges, solu-tions, tips, and applications. Journal of Big Data, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-023-00727-2
Antes, A. L., Kuykendall, A., & DuBois, J. M. (2019). The lab management practices of “Research Exemplars” that foster re-search rigor and regulatory compliance: A qualitative study of successful principal investigators. PLoS ONE, 14(4), e0214595. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214595
Antkowiak, P. S., Lai, S., Burke, R. C., Janes, M., Zawi, T., Shapiro, N. I., & Rosen, C. L. (2023). Characterizing malpractice cases involving emergency department ad-vanced practice providers, physicians in training, and attending physicians. Aca-demic Emergency Medicine, 30(12), 1237–1245. https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.14800
Atluri, L. M., Chong, K. J., Zumot, M., Kan-tamaneni, K., Kondi, S., Bakka, H. S. A., & Kantamneni, R. (2024). Evaluating the SAFE tool’s impact on documentation and patient safety during structured ward rounds in general surgery: a retrospec-tive study. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.73823
Berezniak, V. (2021). Peculiarities of qualifica-tion of criminal offenses against move-ment safety and transport operation: a review of judicial practice. Naukovij Vìsnik Dnìpropetrovsʹkogo Deržavnogo Unìversitetu Vnutrìšnìh Sprav, 3(3), 227–234. https://doi.org/10.31733/2078-3566-2021-3-227-234
Biden, J. R. (2023, October 31). Executive Or-der on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelli-gence. DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/scholcom/263/
Bjarnason, E., Sharp, H., & Regnell, B. (2019). Improving requirements-test alignment by prescribing practices that mitigate communication gaps. Empirical Software Engineering, 24(4), 2364–2409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10664-019-09698-6
Blau, S., Phillips, E., O’Donnell, C., & Markow-sky, G. (2019). Evaluating the impact of different formats in the presentation of trauma evidence in court: a pilot study. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Evaluating-the-impact-of-different-formats-in-the-a-Blau-Phil-lips/e99abed1619c5dfccb3d453c59f8cea0423ce947
Bryant, R. P. (2009). Theories of Criminal In-vestigation. 13–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470682388.ch2
Damascena, N. P., Silva, M. C., Deitos, A. R., Baldasso, R. P., Ferreira, R. C. G., Júnior, C. K., & Machado, C. E. P. (2022). Recom-mendations for procedures related to the evidence chain of custody in forensic an-thropology in Brazil. PubMed, 7(4), 609–622. https://doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2022.2076984
D’Anna, T., Puntarello, M., Cannella, G., Scalzo, G., Buscemi, R., Zerbo, S., & Argo, A. (2023). The Chain of Custody in the Era of Modern Forensics: From the Classic Pro-cedures for Gathering Evidence to the New Challenges Related to Digital Data. Healthcare, 11(5), 634. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11050634
Daraojimba, N. R. E., Farayola, N. O. A., Olatoye, N. F. O., Mhlongo, N. N., & Oke, N. T. T. (2023). FORENSIC ACCOUNTING IN THE DIGITAL AGE: A U.S. PERSPEC-TIVE: SCRUTINIZING METHODS AND CHALLENGES IN DIGITAL FINANCIAL FRAUD PREVENTION. Finance & Ac-counting Research Journal, 5(11), 342–360. https://doi.org/10.51594/farj.v5i11.614
Di Nota, P. M., & Huhta, J. (2019). Complex Mo-tor Learning and Police Training: applied, cognitive, and clinical perspectives. Fron-tiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01797
Ekuma, N., & Fon, Y. (2024, April 28). Block-chain technology for secure and trans-parent evidence management in criminal investigations. https://aarlj.com/index.php/AARLJ/article/view/39
El-Haija, M. I. A. (2024). The role of proof of written vice Electronic Documents: A study of the laws of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Global Journal of Politics and Law Research, 12(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.37745/gjplr.2013/vol12n2119
Errickson, D., Fawcett, H., Thompson, T., & Campbell, A. (2019). The effect of differ-ent imaging techniques for the visualisa-tion of evidence in court on jury compre-hension. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-effect-of-different-imaging-techniques-for-the-Errickson-Faw-cett/1ae47a8ea733475d5147b6406f74b0af29802e9e
Esteves, S. C., Zini, A., Coward, R. M., Evenson, D. P., Gosálvez, J., Lewis, S. E. M., Sharma, R., & Humaidan, P. (2020). Sperm DNA fragmentation testing: Summary evidence and clinical practice recommendations. Andrologia, 53(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/and.13874
Evidence Management - How chain of custody serves the justice system. (2023b, No-vember 22). Tracker Products. https://trackerproducts.com/evidence-management-how-chain-of-custody-serves-the-justice-sys-tem/?fbclid=IwAR3uyD4__3PTiRakXu_iBZlBX9G0HPdiIhNuVDgL0r2flc5KWNIEca4tM18
Gless, S. (2019). Transnational Access to Evi-dence, Witnesses, and Suspects. The Ox-ford Handbook of Criminal Process, 585–608. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190659837.013.33
González, A. N. M. (2023). A cadeia de custódia e o seu impacto no processo judicial. Re-vista Viìa IURIS/Revista via Iuris, 35, 214–251. https://doi.org/10.37511/viaiuris.n35a6
Hadavi, S., Rai, H. B., Verlinde, S., Huang, H., Macharis, C., & Guns, T. (2020). Analyzing passenger and freight vehicle movements from automatic-Number plate recogni-tion camera data. European Transport Research Review, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12544-020-00405-x
Hanafi, J., Prayudi, Y., & Luthfi, A. (2021). IPF-SCHAIN: Interplanetary File System and Hyperledger Fabric Collaboration for Chain of Custody and Digital Evidence Management. International Journal of Computer Applications, 183(41), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.5120/ijca2021921808
Herzog, C., Handke, C., & Hitters, E. (2019). Analyzing Talk and Text II: Thematic analysis. In Springer eBooks (pp. 385–401). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16065-4_22
Holubov, A. (2021). Regarding the content, structure and concept of evidence collec-tion in criminal proceedings: procedural and criminalistics aspects. Naukovij Vìsnik Lʹotnoï Akademìï. Serìâ Ekonomìka, Menedžment Ta Pravo, 5, 156–162. https://doi.org/10.33251/2707-8620-2021-5-156-162
Igwe, D. O. (2023). Inter-Agency Collaboration against Transnational Crime and Law En-forcement within Seme Badagry Border Migration Corridor Example. https://esutjss.com/index.php/ESUTJSS/article/view/237
Kretser, A., Murphy, D., Bertuzzi, S., Abraham, T., Allison, D. B., Boor, K. J., Dwyer, J., Grantham, A., Harris, L. J., Hollander, R., Jacobs-Young, C., Rovito, S., Vafiadis, D., Woteki, C., Wyndham, J., & Yada, R. (2019). Scientific Integrity Principles and Best Practices: Recommendations from a Scientific Integrity Consortium. Science and Engineering Ethics, 25(2), 327–355. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-019-00094-3
Kretz, I., Parran, C., Ramsdell, J., & Rowe, P.(2024). Evidence tampering and chain of custody in layered attestations. Article Information | J-GLOBAL. https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/en/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=202402202490415212
Longley, R. (2022, July 13). What is chain of custody? Definition and examples. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/chain-of-custody-4589132
Marochkin, O. (2022). ELECTRONIC DOCU-MENTS AS EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS: NATURE, ESTABLISH-MENT AND FEATURES OF USE. Inter-nauka. Seriâ: Ûridičeskie Nauki, 11(57). https://doi.org/10.25313/2520-2308-2022-11-8371
Mashuri, S., Rasak, M. S. A., Alhabsyi, F., & Syam, H. (2022). Semi-structured Inter-view: A methodological reflection on the development of a qualitative research in-strument in educational studies. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Semi-structured-Interview%3A-A-Methodological-on-the-Mashuri-Rasak/38ae5025c9989b44ac047579844f6d40b123e987
Maslen, H., & Paine, C. (2019). When should the police investigate cases of non-recent child sexual abuse? Criminal Justice Eth-ics, 38(2), 65–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/0731129x.2019.1600288
McCartney, C., & Shorter, L. (2020). Police re-tention and storage of evidence in Eng-land and Wales. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 22(2), 123-136. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355719891741
Mintah, C., Gabir, M., Aloo, F., & Ofori, E. K. (2022). Do business records management affect business growth? PLoS ONE, 17(3), e0264135. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264135
Molenveld, A., Verhoest, K., Voets, J., & Steen, T. (2019). Images of Coordination: How implementing organizations perceive co-ordination arrangements. Public Admin-istration Review, 80(1), 9–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13136
Morgan, J. (2023). Wrongful convictions and claims of false or misleading forensic evi-dence. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 68(3), 908–961. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15233
Morina, M., Papajorgji, E., & Eren, M. A. (2021). Collecting evidence in forensic events and comparison of the digital evi-dence practices of Kosovo and Turkey. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 10(5), 45. https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2021-0122
Muinga, N., Abejirinde, I. O., Paton, C., English, M., & Zweekhorst, M. (2020). Designing paper‐based records to improve the qual-ity of nursing documentation in hospitals: A scoping review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(1–2), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15545
Nascimento, C. G. H., Valadao, R. P., & Cardoso, G. (2022). CHAIN OF CUSTODY AT THE FEDERAL DISTRICT CIVIL POLICE: A LEADING EXPERIENCE IN IMPLEMENT-ING LAW 13.964/2019. Perspectivas Em Medicina Legal E Perícias Médicas, 7(1), e221117. https://doi.org/10.47005/221117
Nsofwa, P. (2019). Crime scene evidence in-ventory management system: the case of Zambia Police Service. https://dspace.unza.zm/items/cafe23e0-61b2-4e2e-bec5-ff73cb776548
Obeagu, E. I., & Obeagu, G. U. (2024). Strength-ening laboratory systems for ensuring ac-curate diagnoses in Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) prevention Pro-grams in Uganda: A Narrative review. Annals of Medicine and Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1097/ms9.0000000000002154
Ostroumov, A. A. (2024). Interaction between the court and the parties in the process of presenting and examining evidence elec-tronically. Vestnik Universiteta Imeni O.E. Kutafina (MGÛA)/Vestnik Universiteta Imeni O. E. Kutafina, 10, 168–177. https://doi.org/10.17803/2311-5998.2023.110.10.168-177
Ozioko, A. C. (2024, July 31). Legal challenges in digital forensics for financial crime in-vestigations. http://journals.frankridgeconsortium.com/index.php/GRNWO/article/view/49
Paddeu, D., Calvert, T., Clark, B., & Parkhurst, G. (2019). New technology and automa-tion in freight transport and handling sys-tems. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/New-Technology-and-Automation-in-Freight-Transport-Paddeu-Cal-vert/4f09e9f6938b7907fdd68aa9a0b8918586223a22
Philippines 1987 Constitution - Constitute. (n.d.). https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Philippines_1987
Prayudi, Y., Ashari, A., & Priyambodo, T. K. (2019). The pseudo metadata concept for the chain of custody of digital evidence. International Journal of Electronic Secu-rity and Digital Forensics, 11(4), 395. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijesdf.2019.10021732
Prayudi, Y., Ashari, A., & Priyambodo, T. K. (2019b). The pseudo metadata concept for the chain of custody of digital evi-dence. International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, 11(4), 395. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijesdf.2019.10021732
Reinhold, T., & Reuter, C. (2023). Zur Verhin-derung der Eskalation von Cyber-konflikten: Ein Ansatz zum plausiblen Nachweis der Nichtbeteiligung an einem Cyberangriff. Zeitschrift Für Friedens- Und Konfliktforschung, 12(1), 31–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42597-023-00099-7
Republic Act No. 9165. (n.d.). https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2002/ra_9165_2002.html
Republic Act No. 10640. (n.d.). https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2014/ra_10640_2014.html
Rodriguez, J. J. R. B., Laude, R. P., & De Ungria, M. C. A. (2021). An integrated system for forensic DNA testing of sexual assault cases in the Philippines. Forensic Science International. Synergy, 3, 100133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100133
Rossinskiy, S. B. (2020). GATHERING EVI-DENCE AS a «FIRST» STAGE OF PROVING IN a CRIMINAL CASE. Ûridičeskij Vestnik Samarskogo Universiteta, 6(3), 91–103. https://doi.org10.18287/2542-047x-2020-6-3-91-103
Rules of court - evidence. (n.d.). https://lawphil.net/courts/rules/rc_128-134_evidence.html
Salazar & Kelly Law Group, P.A. (2019, June 10). Problems with evidence and the chain of custody? | Kissimmee Criminal Attorneys. https://www.salazarandkelly.com/problems-with-evidence-and-the-chain-of-custody/
Shah, S. a. A., & Hussain, B. (2020). Challenges faced by police officers in forensic crimi-nal Investigation A case study of District Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Social Science Research Network. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3745301
Sheppard, K., Fieldhouse, S. J., & Cassella, J. P. (2020). Experiences of evidence presen-tation in court: an insight into the prac-tice of crime scene examiners in England, Wales and Australia. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences/Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-020-00184-5
Soukara, S. (2020, December 16). The Role of Investigative Interviewing on Witness Testimony. Cyprus Review. https://cyprusreview.org/index.php/cr/article/view/724
Spyropoulos, A. Z., Bratsas, C., Makris, G. C., Garoufallou, E., & Tsiantos, V. (2023). In-teroperability-Enhanced knowledge Management in Law Enforcement: An In-tegrated Data-Driven Forensic Ontologi-cal approach to crime scene analysis. In-formation, 14(11), 607. https://doi.org/10.3390/info14110607
Sultana, A., Billah, M. M., Ahmed, M. M., Aftab, R. S., Kaosar, M., & Uddin, M. S. (2024). Applications of IoT-Enabled Smart Mod-el: a model for enhancing food service operation in developing countries. Jour-nal of Applied Engineering and Techno-logical Science (JAETS), 5(2), 1123–1141. https://doi.org/10.37385/jaets.v5i2.4937
Yahya, M. A., Azam, A., & Shariff, M. (2023). APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES OF CHAIN OF EVIDENCE AND CHAIN OF CUSTODY DURING STORAGE AND FORENSIC EX-AMINATION OF ELECTRONIC DOCU-MENTARY EVIDENCE IN SHARIAH CRIM-INAL CASES IN MALAYSIA. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/APPLICATION-OF-PRINCIPLES-OF-CHAIN-OF-EVIDENCE-AND-Yahya-Azam/17dfe4564b726067284f867aad8e7d371187c4fc
Yan, W., Shen, J., Cao, Z., & Dong, X. (2020). Blockchain Based Digital Evidence Chain of Custody. International Conferences on Blockchain Technology. https://doi.org/10.1145/3390566.3391690
Zaid, S. M. A., & Sabbar, B. M. (2020). A DE-SIGN OF DIGITAL CHAIN CUSTODY FOR REPUBLIC OF IRAQ. Iraqi Journal of In-formation & Communication Technolo-gy/Iraqi Journal of Information and Communication Technology, 3(3), 24–32. https://doi.org/10.31987/ijict.3.3.108
Zaid, S. M. A., & Sabbar, B. M. (2020b). A DE-SIGN OF DIGITAL CHAIN CUSTODY FOR REPUBLIC OF IRAQ. Iraqi Journal of In-formation & Communication Technolo-gy/Iraqi Journal of Information and Communication Technology, 3(3), 24–32. https://doi.org/10.31987/ijict.3.3.108
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Lumyaen D. Lidawan, Elizabeth Buena-Villa, Julius Guiller G. Luis
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See the Effect of Open Access).
