In a significant step toward enhancing regional forensic capabilities and disaster response preparedness, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, in collaboration with the Indonesia National Police, convened the 1st Virtual Working Group Meeting of the ASEAN Police Forensic Science Network (APFSN) on Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) on 16 April 2025. The meeting was chaired by Drg. Lisda Cancer, M. Biotech, representing the current APFSN DVI/CSI Committee Chairperson from the Indonesia National Police, and was attended by thirty-three (33) forensic experts from all ten ASEANAPOL Member Countries (AMCs).
This inaugural meeting marked the operationalization of key directives set forth in the 42nd ASEANAPOL Conference Joint Communiqué, which called for stronger technical collaboration among Member Countries, especially in areas of forensic science and disaster response. The event brought together designated focal persons from the Royal Brunei Police Force, Cambodian National Police, Indonesia National Police, Lao Police Force, Royal Malaysia Police, Myanmar Police Force, Philippine National Police, Singapore Police Force, Royal Thai Police, and the Office of Investigation Police Agency (OIPA) of Vietnam.
In his opening support message, Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan, Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to building a strong regional forensic community, capable of supporting each other in times of natural or man-made disasters. The Secretariat was represented by Senior Superintendent Huntal Tambunan, Director for Police Services, along with Police Service Officers Deputy Superintendent of Police Abdul Hamid Abdul Hashim and Assistant Superintendent of Police Nithia Perumal.
During the meeting, each AMC presented an overview of their respective DVI/CSI units, highlighting institutional capabilities, standard procedures, and readiness to respond to large-scale emergencies. These country briefings provided an in-depth understanding of national structures and offered valuable insights into the potential for cross-border support and technical cooperation.
The Working Group meeting also demonstrated ASEANAPOL’s alignment with the “Good Neighbor” principle, an ASEAN value that underscores regional solidarity and mutual assistance in times of crisis. This principle was recently put into action during the earthquake emergency in Myanmar and Thailand, where ASEANAPOL Member Countries offered prompt support. The APFSN platform seeks to formalize and strengthen such responses through the establishment of interoperable and deployable forensic teams across ASEAN.
As a key outcome of the session, the Chairperson from the Indonesian National Police presented a Four-Point Working Plan, encompassing fourteen Strategic Action Items that aim to: Harmonize DVI/CSI protocols across ASEAN police forces, Develop a regional pool of trained forensic responders, Create joint operational guidelines for cross-border deployments, and Institutionalize the APFSN as a rapid technical support mechanism for disaster-stricken or crisis-affected member countries.
These plans will guide the future efforts of ASEANAPOL in ensuring that forensic science becomes a core component of regional security and humanitarian response. Moving forward, APFSN is envisioned to serve as a center of excellence—developing best practices, conducting joint exercises, and supporting peer-to-peer training within and beyond Southeast Asia.
The meeting also included an in-depth discussion on the proposed minimum standards for DVI capacity and capability among ASEAN member states. The proposed framework outlines essential components such as human resources, technical expertise, and equipment readiness. Establishing these baseline standards is expected to enhance cross-border operational compatibility, optimize resource mobilization, and support a unified response mechanism in managing mass fatality incidents.
The 1st APFSN Working Group Meeting laid the groundwork for an enduring collaborative platform. With the committed involvement of all ten AMCs, the meeting demonstrated not only the existing technical capabilities of ASEAN police forces but also their collective will to act as one in the face of emergencies. By building on this momentum, ASEANAPOL continues to shape a more prepared, resilient, and united forensic policing community—ready to respond to future crises and safeguard lives across the region.