QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

by:
HERMOGENES P. MALAGAMBA
 Cagayan de Oro College
Phinma Education Network

SCHOOL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

COURSE OUTLINE

I. SUBJECT INFORMATION

Course Number : CRI 037 (Police Science – 6)

Descriptive Title : Questioned Documents
Credit/Time Allotment : 4 units / 4 hours a week
Semester : 2nd SY 2011 – 2012

II. INSTRUCTOR’S INFORMATION:

Name : Hermogenes P. Malagamba

Contact No. : 09493008493
E-mail Address : [email protected]

III. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Study of the basic rules governing the individually and identification of

handwriting, signatures, typewritten and other related documents identification of
counterfeited paper bills, examination of inks and other writing materials, latent print
examination on documents. Study of the principles intimately involved in the process of
identification of the various aspect of questioned documents.

IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the course 90% of the students are expected to:
1. Provide a working knowledge on the field of questioned documents as one area
of criminalistics.
2. Understand the evidentiary value of questioned documents, its application in
police work and in any court of law.
3. Appreciate the importance of questioned documents as a tool of criminal
investigation.
4. Study of the principles intimately involved in the process of identification of the
various aspects of questioned documents.

V. TEACHING STRATEGIES:
1. Lecture
2. Discussion/Reporting
3. Actual Demonstrations (Laboratory Activities)
4. Work book

VI. TEACHING DEVICE:

1. Bubble Chart Drawing & Reporting

2. Overhead Projector
3. Multi-Media
4. Camera

VII. EVALUATION
1. Written Examinations
2. Oral Examinations
3.Return Demonstration

VIII. TOPICS PER SESSION

PERIOD TOPICS ACTIVITIES

P 1. Introduction / classroom policies 1. Students are required to submit cases

R 2. System of handwriting involving documents examination to let
E
3. Principles intimately involved in the process of them realize the importance of document
L
identification examination to crime solution.
I
M
4. Various aspects of questioned documents 2. Students are/required to produce
exemplars with signatures and determine
whether signatures are genuine or forged.
3. Students will also begin answering the
workbook.

M 1. Care, handling and preservation of documents 1. Actual demonstration on how to properly

I as evidence keep documents.
D
2. Basic rules governing the individually of 2. Students will examine documents on the
T
handwriting. basis on slant, proportion, alignment and
E
R
3. Rules on how handwriting is identified. stroke structure.
M 4. Instruments, apparatus, materials used in 3. Students are required to pass at least
questioned documents 100 items defined terms.

S 1. Examination of typewriting 1. Students are required to recite the rule and

E 2. Inks and paper analysis techniques on the examination of
M
3. Document photography typewritten documents.
I
2. Students are required to determine the
F
I
individual typeface defects of a typewritten
N by requiring them to secure typewritten
A documents and actual examination
L afterwards.
3. Series of exams will be conducted
based on the defined terms submitted
by the students & other references.
 1. Examination of typewriting 1. Students are required to recite the
S
2. Inks and paper analysis rule and techniques on the
E 3. Document photography examination of typewritten
documents.
M
2. Students are required to determine
I the individual typeface defects of a
typewritten by requiring them to
F
secure typewritten documents and
I actual examination afterwards.
3. Series of exams will be conducted
N
based on the defined terms
A submitted by the students & other
references.
L
1. Miscellaneous document problems 1. Students are required to identify and
a. Forgery in general compare counterfeited with genuine
F
b. Erasures, alterations, obliteration if paper pills.
I documents and additions, interlineations 2. Students are required to perform
and substitution in document experiment regarding examinations
N
c. Anonymous writing of erasures, obliterations, alterations
A d. Counterfeiting and other.
Note: Students are required to attend all the 3. Students are required to submit
L
required practical exercises as indicated and defend their workbook.
in this course-outline otherwise it will
become grounds of the instructor by
giving NVCR rating.
TOS- QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
1. Identify the different elements of signature and
handwriting identification; (3%)
2. Demonstrate proficiency in the proper use of the

different equipment employed in the examination of

questioned document; (3%)
3. Demonstrate efficiency in the identification of
typewritten (computer) generated documents, type of
typewriters and proper methods of obtaining known
typewritten exemplars; (3%)
4. Apply the MLQ-SAPS & 12 points of comparison
techniques in the examination of handwriting
characteristics; (3%)
5. Identify and analyze miscellaneous document problems
(Alteration &counterfeiting) (3%)
•COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

•Regular attendance and students are expected to be alert and attentive with note
taking in class and have demonstrated desire to participate in any discussion.
•P1. P2 and P3 examinations are to be completed within the dates set by the
school.
•Submission of the work book and other assignments.

•GRADING SYSTEM:
•Each total raw score must be converted into equivalent percentage by using the
following formula.
Percentage = Score x 100
N (total no. of items)
Methods used in computing the grades
1/3 Major Examination (ME) + 2/3 Class Standing (CS)
XI .TEXTBOOK / REFERENCES:

Montojo, Felipe G. Handwriting Identification, National Bookstore, 2006

Dagas, Dignos P. at el. Forensic Questioned Documents, J.C. Palabay Enterprises Inc.
2003.
Conway, James V.P. Evidential Documents, USA: Charles C. Thomas Illinois, 1972

O’Hara, Charles E. Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation, USA: Bannerstone House.

Osborn, Albert S., Questioned Documents, Second Edition. Montclair, NJ: Patteson
Smith, 1929

XII. ADDITIONAL READINGS/REFERENCES from the NET:

http://www.questioneddocuments.com/handwiting
http://www.questioneddocuments.com/indented.html
DOCUMENT DEFINED:

 isany material that contains marks, symbols, or

signs, visible or partially visible & convey
meaning or message.
DISPUTED DOCUMENT DEFINED
 isthe term given when there is an argument or
controversy on the document.
 Questioned Documents- is a document which
is in questioned because of its origin, its
contents, or circumstances regarding its
production, arouse suspicion as to its
genuineness or it may adversely scrutinized
simply because it displeases someone.
 Two kinds of standard:

1. Procured or collected- obtained from files

2. Requested- made upon the request of an
investigator.
How to obtain Collected Standards:

 1. Collect at least 15-20 standards;

 2. Collected standards should bear similarity of subject
matter;
 3. The date of preparation must be five (5) years before
& five (5) years after the incident happened;
 4. There should be similarity of the instrument used in
writing;
 5. The writing condition and the manner of execution
must be similar to the execution of the questioned
writing.
 PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN THE
PROCESS OF IDENTIFICATION
OF CHARACTERISTICS

2 Groups of Characteristics

a. Common class or style characteristics
b. Individual or Personal characteristics
 REQUIREMENTS IN SECURING
STANDARDS

OSBORN – 8-10
CONWAY – 3
PHILIPPINES- 8
How to obtain Requested Standards:

 1. Dictate, never allow the suspect to see the

document;
 2. The text that is to be dictated must be carefully
selected; do not dictate exactly the content to prevent
familiarity of the document;
 3. Dictation must be conducted for three times;
 4. Dictation must be interrupted & on an interval basis
so that the subject will feel relax and write in his own
natural writing.
 5. The normal writing condition of the subject must be
arranged, so that the writer will feel to write the
dictation.
THREE PROCESSES ENTAILS IN
THE SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION
OF HANDWRITING

ANALYSIS
involves the observation, measurement and or
determination of properties or characteristics.
COMPARISON
entails the actual comparison of the properties or
characteristics of an unknown item determined thru
analysis with familiar or recorded characteristics of
known items.
Cont…..

. EVALUATION
means the correct interpretation of
characteristics will each have a certain value
of identification determined by their
likelihood of occurrence.
 HISTORY OF PAPER

 PARCHMENT OR VELLUM – earliest form of

material on which writing was placed were
the skins of animals
 PAPYRUS –the first artificial material used in
Egpyt, were the inside of a grass plant was
sliced into layers that were beaten and
pressed together into sheets
 SULPHITE –a modern type of paper made
from wood
 ESPARTO – a grass grown in Libya used for
paper
How to prepare & examine Typewriting
Standards:

 1. Examine the ribbon;

 2. Use the same size of questioned materials, same
word, typographical errors & same degree of touch;
 3. Prepare the standard while the typewriter is in stencil
position;
 4. State the make, model, serial number, date & initial
of the officer;
 5. Typewriter should be kept in current condition.
Source of Standards:

 Files
 Workplace
 Previous employments
Proof of Authenticity:
 The Revised Rules on Evidence (Rules of Court)
specifically Rule 132- Presentation of Evidence letter
“B” Authentication & Proof of Documents
 Section 20 Proof of Private Documents-
states that before any private document is offered as
authentic its due execution and authenticity must be
proved:
 a) By anyone who saw the document when it is
executed or written.
 b) By evidence of the genuineness of the
signature or handwriting of the suspect.

 Section 22.
How Genuineness of Handwriting is
Proved?

 The genuineness of the document can be

proved by any witness who believe it to be
the handwriting of such person because he
saw the person executed it.

 In other words, it should be verified.

Alterations:

 a) Erasures
1. Chemical- bleached with an eradicator. When it is an
iron based ink & fumed with sulfoxyanic acid, fume will
turn red.
2. Abrasive- when something rough or sharp pointed
instrument is used in erasing the writings.
3. Associative evidence- a carbon copy, will reveal
what had been erased.
4. Cutting
5. Interlineations, addition or subtraction.
Elements of Alterations:

a) Lack of uniformity of ink;

b) Work of more than one pen or ink;
c) Crowding, uneven margin, & unusual spacing;
d) Removal & reinsertion;
e) Indication of more than one ribbon or
typewriter, including the condition of the fabric of
the ribbon;
f) Sharp variation in handwriting.
OBLITERATION & RESTORATION

 Obliteration- blotting out or smearing over of

the writing to make the original invisible.

 Restoration- the process of the development

of erased writing or bringing out again. This
is done by photographic methods by the use
of filter, except when covered with black.
 METHODS OF RESTORING
OBLITERATED WRITINGS

 1. To penetrate the covering layer photographically,

so that the original writing lying beneath is thus
revealed. Photographic methods can succeed only if a
difference in color or chemical composition exists
between the original writing and the covering material.
Separation of color may be possible with the aid of
photographic filter, but it is useless when the ink is a
true black.
 2. To remove the covering material chemically, or with
the aid of ultra-violate radiation or oblique lighting.
Cont…

 3. In cases where a white-out is used, careful

inspection of the writing will reveal the
obliteration. The original writing can be read
also with the aid of a transmitted light with
infrared sensitive film and filters or with use
of solvents to weaken the cover and reveal
the writing below.
Handwriting:
 Natural
 Disguised
 Cursive
 Hand lettering
 Cortex of the brain- control vision,
hearing, talking, and walking. It also guide
the muscles of the hands.
 agrapia- a disease which causes the
individual to lose his/her ability to write.
Two muscles of the hand capable of
hand movement:

 1. Extensor muscles- push the pen to form an

upward stroke.
 2. Flexor muscles- push the pen to form the
downward strokes.
 The combination of these two muscles of
the hand allows the individual to perform the
lateral strokes (sideward).
 HANDWRITING MOVEMENT

 Finger movement avails of the thumb,

index and middle fingers
 Hand movement entails the action of
the hand as a whole.
 Forearm movement is produced by
movement of both the hand and arm and
fingers
 Whole arm movement involves the
action of the entire arm without rest and
employed largely in green board writing.
CARE IN HANDLING DOCUMENTS:

 1. Do not fold the document along new lines.

 2. Bring the document to the laboratory at the soonest
time.
 3. Do not expose the document to excessive heat or
strong light.
 4. Do not handle the document excessively, and do not
place it in your pocket.
 5. Do not work on it unnecessarily.
 6. Do not mutilate or damage.
 7. Do not use or allow chemical application to treat or
dust for latent prints.
CHARATERISTICS OF TREMOR OF
FRAUD:

 1. Inequality of movement in any place in any stroke or

line with strokes too strong and vigorous, combined
with weak hesitating strokes.
 2. Frequent interruption of movement.
 3. Unequal distribution of ink on upward and downward
strokes.
 4. Varying pen pressure, due to change in speed &
interruptions in movement, this may occur in the middle
of direct curves or even on the straight lines.
 5. Too many pen-stops and pen-lifts on wrong places.
TREMOR DUE TO HESITATION
CHARACTERISTIC TREMORS OF AGE
OR OF EXTREME WEAKNESS:

 1. Show unusual and erratic departure of lines from its

intended course.
 2. Abrupt recovery, a general inclination of muscular
weakness and of movement beyond the control of the
writer, particularly on downward strokes.
 3. Show awkward digression or distortions which may
be due to imperfect sight.
 4. Characterized by abbreviations or even omissions
of parts of letters or even the whole word.
Cont…

 5. In the tremor of age often show very

uneven alignment especially when the line
intersect.
In signature, it shows apparent impatience
and desire to complete disagreeable and
painful act.
Concluding or terminal strokes are often
made with nervous, haste and carelessness
or may be distorted or abbreviated.
FOUR (4) CATEGORIES OF
DOCUMENT

1. Public Document
-an instrument authenticated by a notary
public or competent official with the
formalities required by law; or an instrument
executed in due form before a notary public
certified by him; or one that which is made by
a notary public in the presence of parties
who execute it with the assistance of two (2)
witnesses.
Cont… (Categories of Documents)

2. Commercial Document
-under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code, these
are instruments which are used by the merchants or
businessmen to promote or facilitate trade or credit
transaction. The term also include letters, notes or
papers issued in the course of business transactions,
quedans, bonds, books of accounts and in general
any negotiable instruments. It is any document
defined and regulated by the code of commerce or
any other commercial law.
Cont…(Categories of Documents)

3. Official Document
- a document which is issued by a public
official in the exercise of the functions of his
office. An official document is also a public
document.
Cont… (Categories of Documents)

4. Private Document
- a deed or instrument executed by a
private person without the intervention of a
notary public or other persons legally
authorized, by which document’s some
disposition or agreement is provided
evidence as set forth.
IDENTIFICATION OF SIGNATURES

 The identification or the so called verification of

signatures is a specialized branch or handwriting
examination.
 The identification principles and pointers in
general handwriting set forth and discussed earlier
herein fundamentally remain the same in the
identification of signatures, however, certain
characteristics and factors must be given careful
consideration because of the following reasons:
 a) Known signatures may contain elements and
features not common to the writer’s other classes of
writing;
 Factors of identification given closest study in
signature examination may not be given the
same special emphasis in general writing.

 A simple signature may represent thousand or

even millions of pesos, and such minute stroke
of a few letters of a genuine signature may thus
represent tens or even hundreds of thousands of
pesos. It is, therefore, natural and necessary that
every minute phase of this small production of
the human hand and the human brain should be
analyzed and scrutinized every possible way.
A signature is a combination of rather limited
letters and designs due to its frequent use, it

become almost automatic with many writers.

 The identification of signature depends very
largely on the manner it is written.
 While design or form of letters are the eye-
catching features the forces or factors that
contribute to the manner of writing of
identification.
 The individual writing movement and the skill employed
in the execution of the signature itself. A combination of
the following factors provides a full description of the
individual writing movement in the execution of the

signature:
 A continuous writing movement-or the opposite, a writing
movement interrupted at intervals by either pen stops or
actual pen lift.
 Rhythmic, or the opposite, jerky pattern of writing.
 Shading and pen emphasis on particular strokes.
 Overall writing pressures.
 Speed of execution.
 Smooth or angular connecting strokes between letters.
 Starting of the initial writing movement before or after the
pen contacts the paper and the corresponding condition
at the termination of the word.
 A person, in writing his signature, produces a particular
pattern which contain personal concepts of design
which, when often repeated serves to distinguish his
signature from all others.

Elements which constitute general forms of signature

include the following:
 Design of letters
 Slant of letters
 Relative size of capitals; single-space letters and those
which follow the base line or above, the height of a
single space.
 Ornamentation of form
 Arrangement of different parts of the signature with
respect to the balance of it.
 The identification of signature is based on the
combination of the two (2) personal attribute of:
 Form

 Line quality
 If a questioned signature agrees with the standards in all
identifying elements, then it can be concluded that it was
written by the same person.
 If on the other hand, significant differences exist between
the standards and the questioned signatures, they must
be the work of two different writers, and the difference
between them have to be of fundamental nature and no
mere variations which are normally found between two
signatures of any writer.
 No two specimens of a person’s signatures
are absolutely identical. The signatures
normally vary from each other in some

details and the degree which they vary from

each other depends upon the individual
writer and the conditions under which each
signature was written. As pointed out in
“Standards of Comparison”, it is because of
the normal variations in signature that
several signatures should be used to identify
the one in question.
 In the identification, the known or sample
signature must necessarily establish
accurately the range of variation, and then it

is necessary to determine whether the

identifying qualities of unknown signature fall
within these limits. Natural variation between
several signatures if the same person plays
an important role in the process of
identification. In most cases, the extent of
variation in writing even becomes a
characteristic peculiar to the writer.
FORGERY OF SIGNATURES

A forged signature is the signature of

another person or a fictitious person, written
by a person who has no authority to do so,
with intent to defraud.
Classes of Disputed Signatures:

1. Forged signatures where no attempt has been made to make a

copy or facsimile of the genuine signature.
2. Forged signatures of fictitious persons.
3. Forged signature which resemble the genuine signature since
they have been produced by a tracing process ( Traced
forgery).
4. Forged signature which resemble the genuine signature written
free-hand.
6. Genuine signature obtained by trickery.
7. Genuine signatures deliberately written illegibly or in an unusual
manner, to afford signatories some plausible grounds for
disclaiming them should only deemed it expedient.
KINDS OF FORGERY

 Simple Forgery
 Simulated Forgery
 Traced Forgery
 Cursory - hastily, often superficially, done;
performed rapidly with little attention to detail
 Origin of cursory: Latin cursorius from cursor,
runner from cursus: see course
 SIMPLE FORGERY

 This kind of forgery is best termed as “SPURIOUS

SIGNATURE”. In committing fraud, the forger who is
confronted with the absence of a genuine signature (or
a model) will not endeavor anymore to produce a
facsimile of the genuine but merely signs the name in
his own, or in a modified (disguised) handwriting and
then contrive some means of passing the documents
to his own gain before the obvious fraud is discovered.
This is commonly employed in the case of fictitious
persons,
 this system employed by the check thief who
steals, endorses, and passes government,
corporation or other checks, or who procures

printed check forms, completes and endorses then

with fictitious signatures in order to make them
pass on as genuine.
 The determination of the fraudulent nature of this
kind of forged signatures becomes very elementary
once standards of the genuine signatures are
obtained.
 With sufficient standards the identity of the forger,
thru his handwriting may be possibly determined.
SIMULATED FORGERY

 This is a simulation, copying or animation of a

genuine signature or writing as to assemble the
model.
 Before separate discussions of simulated
forgery and traced forgery are herein made,
the following background points are given in
relation to these two kinds of forgery which are
strictly the strange process of writing in place
of the well founded, usual writing movement
employed in genuine writing.
Cont… (Simulated Forgery)

 The forger labors under a stranded mental

and muscular condition that makes it difficult,
if not altogether impossible to do his work in
a skillful manner brought about by:
 The realization that forgery is a criminal act;
 Fear of discovery which certainly result to
punishment;
 Painful anxiety to do the work well.
 To be able to forge successfully, one must:
 Be able to see significant characteristics of the writing
of another;

 Have the muscular skill necessary to reproduce the

writing imitated;
 Be able to eliminate, at the same time all the
characteristics of his writing.
 Forgery is apt to show failure in these phases of
performance.
 The necessity of adjustment of impulses disturbed
when muscles become tense as a result of extra effort
to produce a good forgery, and the best results can be
achieved only when muscles are somewhat relaxed so
that all work is in harmony.
Cont… (Simulated Forgery)
 Simulation and also tracing, gives attention to
conspicuous features of form only, not to the many
other details and elements entering into the process.
 Developed natural writing which is an almost
automatic act that follows the fixed grooves of habit
becomes necessarily stained when attention is given
to it.
 In SIMULATED FORGERY, the forger has a model
(genuine signature) before him which he is going to
copy. Often he undertakes some practice before he
proceed to his work of simulation or imitation.
Cont…(Simulated Forgery)

 In rarer instances where the forger cannot

avail of a genuine signature for a model, he
may rely on a mental pattern of the signature
which he may have owing to long
acquaintances of association with said
signature.
TRACED FORGERY
TYPICAL DOCUMENT PROBLEMS:

a) The identity of the writer of the document.

b) The determination, removal or decipherment
of erasures, interlineations, deletions,
additions, and other alterations.
c) The age of the document.
d) The source of the paper.
e) The source and age of typewriting.
f) Comparisons of handwriting and typewriting.
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

 a) Examination by the Investigator:

The investigator may perform limited examination of
the evidence document in cases, such as involving
anonymous letters, where the authorship is questioned.
He should study the document and compare it with any
available standards. His attention should be directed to
the contents of the letter, similarities in writing, typing,
spelling, locutions, punctuations, and the type of paper.
Immediate precautionary action or investigative leads
may be indicated as a result of this study. Conclusion
regarding the document should remain within the
province of the expert.
b) Laboratory Examination:
The expert employs scientific techniques &
appropriate instruments in the laboratory.
Examinations may involve microscopy,
chemical analysis, micrometry, colorimetry,
photomicrography, ultraviolet, and infrared
photography.
HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION

 The questioned document cases usually concerned

with proving of authorship. The following
determinations may be involved in comparisons of
handwriting:
 Whether the document was written by the suspect.
 Whether the document was written by the person
whose signature it bears.
 Whether the writing contains addition or deletions.
 Whether a document such as bill, receipt, suicide
note, or check is a forgery.
 PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING
HANDWRITING COMPARISON

 “ NO TWO PRODUCTS OF MAN OR NATURE ARE

IDENTICAL, AND DIFFERENCES ARE
PERCEPTIBLE IF A SUFFICIENTLY CLOSE STUDY
IS MADE.”
 Through years of practice each individual acquires
permanent habits of handwriting. The group of
characteristics which form his script constitutes and
identifiable picture. In comparing the questioned and
standard specimen, characteristics of sufficient kind
and number which are common to both must be
established and there must be no unexplainable
differences.
 HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS
WHICH SERVES AS THE BASIS IN
EXAMINATION

 Quality of Line. The lines which form the letter will

vary in appearance with pen position, pressure,
shading, rhythm, tremor, continuity, skill and speed.
 Form. The formation of letters is highly
characteristic. Slant, proportions, beginning and
ending strokes, retracing, and separation of parts
will vary with different persons. Ornamentation and
flourishes at the beginning and end of the words
and sentences are peculiarly individual.
 Spacing. Letters words and lines are separated in
a consistent fashion.
 Spelling and Punctuation. The degree and kind of
education will determine these elements.
Another book enumerated these
characteristics as: (SAPS)
 Slant- which refers to the slope of the handwriting in
relation to the baseline. It is fairly a stable
characteristics and the average slant varies very slightly
in writings which are done naturally.
 Alignment- is the relation of successive characters or
elements of the words, signature or line to an actual
imaginary baseline.
 Proportion- of the letter may refer to the proportion or
apart to the other part of the letter or the relative height
of one letter to the other. This is one of the hidden
features of writing as it is unknown writing of another
being simulated.
 Stroke or structure- Size and form of the letter.
 LIMITATIONS ON FORENSIC
DOCUMENT EXAMINATIONS

1. Non-­‐original evidence (such as

photocopies or faxes) submitted for
examination.
2. Insufficient quantity of questioned material.
3. Insufficient quality.
4. Insufficient known specimens submitted for
comparison.
5. Lack of comparability between the questioned
documents and the known samples.

6. Lack of contemporaneous writings submitted

for comparison;
7. Distortion or disguised writing.
 2

1
S OF A

3 4
1. Initial stroke
PARTS 2. Beginning of the oval
OF A 3. Bottom of the oval
LETTER 4. Foot
5. Terminal stroke
 2
3

1. Initial stroke
2.Loop
3.Staff
4
4. Crossing or
intersection
6
1 5. Foot
6. Horizontal bar

5
 1

Link or connection
(connecting stroke)
PARTS OF A TYPEWRITER
TYPEFACE OF A TYPEWRITER
 VIDEO SPECTRAL COMPARATOR
This instrument is capable of viewing and recording the
response of documents/inks when exposed to light of various
wavelengths. This is useful for the examination and comparison of
inks, the examination of security features in documents such as
passports and driving licences, the examination of altered or
obliterated entries and the examination of entries which have faded
or been washed out.
The following lights and techniques may be used in
combination: •Visible lighting •Infrared •luminescence • UV
•Infrared lighting
•Transmitted light •Coaxial lighting •Oblique lighting
ELECTRO STATIC DETECTION
APPARATUS
VIDEO SPECTRAL
COMPARATOR
 Chromatography is used to separate mixtures of substances into their
components. All forms of chromatography work on the same principle.

 They all have a stationary phase (a solid, or a liquid supported on a solid)

and a mobile phase (a liquid or a gas). The mobile phase flows through
the stationary phase and carries the components of the mixture with it.
Different components travel at different rates.
 In paper chromatography, the stationary phase is a very uniform absorbent
paper. The mobile phase is a suitable liquid solvent or mixture of solvents.
Proportion and Ratio

 1. Normal- ½ size of the capital letter is the size of

small letter.
 2. High Proportion- more than ½ the size of capital
letter.
 3. Low Proportion- less than ½ of the size of capital
letter is the size of small letter.
 Stroke or Structure- refers to letter to letter
comparison.
 TWELVE (12) METHODS/POINTS
OF COMPARISON

 Point 1- Uniformity
 Point 2- Irregularities
– Are the strokes patched or retouched?
– Are there small marks near the strokes?

– Are the strokes wavering?

– Are the connecting strokes broken?
– Are the circle formations made up of separate
strokes?
– Are there pen lifts?
– Are there vertical strokes mixed with a forward
slant?
– Look for individualized strokes (not a sign of
forgery) for identification.
 Point 3- Size and Proportion
– What is the height of the overall writing?
– What is the height of the short letters in relation to
the tall ones?

– Do the strokes diminish in size?

– Do they increase in size
– Are they narrow in proportion as they are tall?
– Does the sentence formation create a convex and
concave baseline?
– Does the sentence formation consistently run
uphill?
– Consistency runs downhill?
– Form converging “railroad track”?
 Point 4- Alignment
– Do the strokes follow straight along the baseline?
– Do the letter strokes leave the baseline?

– Do the word strokes leave the baseline?

– Is the left margin essentially even?
– Is it jagged?
– Do the strokes hit the margin at an oblique angle
– How much space is there between capitals and
small letters?
– Between separate capitals?
– Between word formations?
– In connecting strokes?
– Proportion of space breaks between letters?
 Point 5- Spacing
– Are the strokes above and below the line
balanced?
– How tall are the d and t stems in proportion to the
rest of the writing?
– Are the strokes ill-formed?
 Point 6- Degree of Slant

 Ordinarily, undisguised writing generally

slopes from 30 to 50 degrees to the right of
the vertical, while backhand writing slopes
not more than 30 degrees to the left of the
vertical.
 Point 7- Weight of Strokes

 Point 8- T-Bars and I-Dots

 Point 9- The Needle, the Wedge, the

Round, the Flat

 Point 10- Loops
 Point 11- Circle Formations
 Point 12- Initial and Final Strokes
THREE (3)
BASICMOVEMENTS/MOTIONS IN
HANDWRITING

Clockwise motion
Counterclockwise motion
Straight line motion
CLOCKWISE MOTION
COUNTER CLOCKWISE MOTION
STRAIGHT LINE MOTION
WRITING INSTRUMENTS

Pens
Ballpoint pens
Pencils
Crayons, Chalk and Brush
THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN
OBTAINING HANDWRITING OR HAND
PRINTING SAMPLES FROM THE SUSPECT:

Obtain standards from dictation until it is

believed normal writing has been produced. (
The number of samples needed cannot be
determined in advance)
1. Do not allow the suspect to see either the
original document in question or a
photograph of it.
2. Remove each sample from the sight of the
writer as soon as it is completed.
3. Do not give instruction on spelling, punctuation,
arrangement, etc.
4. Use the same writing media such as type

and size of the paper, writing instruments, printed

forms (such as checks, notes etc.)
5. Obtain the full text of the questioned writing in
word for word order at least once, if possible.
Signatures and less extensive writing should be
prepared several times, each time on different
piece of paper. Obscene passages, proper nouns,
etc. may be omitted from the dictation.
6. In forgery cases the laboratory should also be
furnished with genuine signatures of the person
whose name is forged.

7. Obtain samples with both the right and the left

hands.
8. Obtain samples which are written rapidly,
slowly, and at varied slants.
9. Obtain samples of supplementary writing such
as sketches, drawings, manner of addressing an
envelope, etc.
10. Include a statement that the samples are being
given voluntarily. Writer should initial each page.
11. Witness each sample on the back, never on
the front.
12. If readily available, samples of un-dictated

writing should be obtained,, such as applications

for employment, social or business
correspondence, school papers, etc.
13. The investigator should advise the document
examiner concerning the suspects manner of
writing, i. e., whether he was relaxed, whether he
was writing slowly or rapidly, or apparently
attempting to disguise all or a portion of the
handwriting.
Note:

 The availability of adequate handwriting

samples will allow more suitable examination
which will result into a greater number of
definite conclusion and will therefore, also
assist the expert witness a better
presentation of such conclusion in court.
 TYPES OF INK

 Gallotannate Ink
 Logwood ink
 Nigrosine ink
 Aniline ink
 Carbon ink or colored writing ink
 Ball point pen ink
 The principal fluid writing inks in common use
today are:
a) Iron gallotannates, such as the blue blacks

popularly advertized as “permanent”, also

referred to as iron or iron based inks;
b) Synthetic dye inks frequently observed as
aniline blues and marketed as non-
permanent;
c) Carbon blacks including India and drawing or
lettering inks.
 PRACTICAL QUESTIONS WHICH
ARISE MOST COMMONLY
INVOLVING INK ARE:

 1. Were two documents written with the same ink?

 2. Were all portions of a given document such as
the date, text, signature and witnesses signature
written with the same ink?
 3. What is the age of an ink writing?
 4. Are two ink writings the same age?
 5.Is all the ink in what purports to be a single unit
of writing the same age?
 CARBON INKS – offer no basis for an
estimation of an age. The carbon black inks
may be likened in this respect to pencil

 writings.Carbon is chemically inert and it

does not undergo changes in the writing line
which may be observed and catalogued.
 Aniline dye inks or washable blues do not
undergo progressive recordable changes
and also do not provide basis for an
estimation of an age
 SYMPATHETIC or invisible or pseudo inks
are routinely encountered in criminal and civil
investigations. This kind of ink also react to

light, heat, ultra-violet, or iodine gas.

The field investigator may satisfactorily
develop the majority of invisible inks through
the application of the following procedures:
1) Examine the document in sunlight and under
heavy reflected artificial illumination.
2) Look through the document, first toward
sunlight and thereafter to artificial lights.
3) Examine the document under light rays directed
to it at an oblique angle;
4) Examine the document under filtered ultraviolet
light.

5. Heat the document in an oven provided with

opening for continuous viewing;
6. Fume the document with iodine gases by
activating iodine crystals.
 EXAMINATION OF PAPER

 The examination of paper must be confined to non-

destructive testing which means it does not alter the
evidential paper. Such test includes consideration of:
(f) Weigh l) Fiber composition
 a) Color g) Width m) Spectrophotometer
 b) Texture h) Thickness
 c) Gloss i) Cutting markings
 d) finish j) formation
 e) Imperfections k) opacity
EXAMINATION OF PAPER BILLS

 PHILIPPINE BANKNOTES
 The main engraved components of each value
of the notes may be enumerated as follows:
1. A portrait or portraits on the front with finely
engraved backgrounds.

2. A border and value panel, constructed of

security white line geometric patterns.
3. Lettering, shading and ornamentation of varied
depth and fineness of line.
4. Security “black line” geometric patterns, also
known as “guilloche” work.
5. Finely engraved vignettes on the back.
6. Subsidiary printings.
 HOW TO DETECT COUNTERFEIT
CENTRAL BANK NOTES
 Study the workmanship of each denomination of

known genuine Central Bank Notes. Take note and familiarize

yourself with the various characteristics of the following
features:
1. Distinctive feel
2. Portrait
3. Watermark in Filipino notes
4. Red and blue fibers widely distributed on the paper
5. Broken thread vertically arranged on the left side
of the Filipino notes
6. Lacework design

7. Color of each denomination

8. Color, style and size of serial number
9. Vignette; and
10. Cleanness of print
DOMINANT COLOR FOR EACH
DENOMINATION

 1000 peso bill- Blue ●5 peso bill-Green

 500 peso bill- yellow ●1 peso bill- blue
 200 peso bill- Green
 100 peso-Mauve
 50 peso- Red
 20-peso-Orange
 10-peso- Brown
Obverse: War Heroes - Josefa Llanes Escoda, Vicente
P. Lim, and Jose Abad Santos; Centennial of Philippine
Independence (1998); Medal of Honor; Seal of the
Republic of the Philippines; and the New BSP Seal

Reverse: Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (UNESCO

World Heritage Site); South Sea Pearl (Pinctada
maxima), Tinalak or Ikat-dyed abaca woven in
Mindanao in Southern Philippines

Security Features: (1) embossed prints, (2) serial

number, (3) security fibers, (4) watermark, (5) see-
through mark, (6) concealed value, (7) security thread,
(8) optically variable device, (9) optically variable ink
War Heroes

Josefa Llanes Escoda (20 September 1898-January 1945)

is a social worker, educator, advocate of women's right to
vote; founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and

newspaper editor. She showed extraordinary courage

by continuing to help prisoners of war during the Japanese
Occupation. For this, she and her husband Antonio were
killed before the end of the war.

Brigadier General Vicente P. Lim (24 February 1888 - 31

December 1944) was the first Filipino West Point graduate
and rose to the rank of Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army.
Initially wounded in action, he directed guerrilla activities
from his
hospital bed during the World War II. He was eventually
captured and died in the hands of the Japanese. For his
military service, he received the Legion of Merit and the
Purple Heart.

Jose Abad Santos (19 February 1886 - 2 May 1942)

was the Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court.
He completed his Bachelor of Laws degree in
Northwestern University and Masters of Laws from
Georgetown University as a scholar. He was executed
for refusing to cooperate with the Japanese forces.
Informed of his impending execution, he told his son ho
had been captured with him: "It is a rare opportunity to
die for one's country."
The 130,000 hectare Tubattaha Reef Marine Park in Sulu
Sea is one of the Philippines' oldest ecosystems. It is
home to a great diversity of marine life: whales, dolphins,

sharks, and turtles are among the key species found here.
The reef ecosystem supports over 350 species of coral
and almost 500 species of fish. Declared as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, it plays a key role in the reproduction,
dispersal, and colonization by marine organisms in the
whole Sulu Sea system and in helping support fisheries
outside its boundaries. It is a natural laboratory for
studying ecological and biological processes, displaying
process of coral reef formation, and supporting marine
species dependent on reef ecosystems.
The presence of tiger and hammerhead sharks,
which are top predator species, indicates the
ecological balance of the

property.
South Sea Pearls - Sulu Sea is part of the
South Seas, which are the natural habitat of
oysters that produce the largest pearls grown in
the world - the Pinctada maxima. The colors of
these treasures from the sea range from white to
silver and golden.
Obverse: Icons of Democracy - President
Corazon C. Aquino, Senator Benigno Aquino
Jr. ; EDSA People Power I February 1986;
Benigno

S. Aquino, Jr. Monument; Seal of the President;

New BSP Seal
Reverse: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site);
Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis),
woven cloth from Southern Philippines
Security Features: (1) embossed prints, (2)
serial number, (3) security fibers, (4) watermark,
(5) see-through mark, (6) concealed value, (7)
security thread, (8) optically variable device
Icons of Democracy
President Corazon C. Aquino (25 January 1933 - 1 August 2009),
the 11th President of the Philippines, is the first woman head of state.
She assumed office following the historic non-violent People Power

Revolution that toppled a dictatorship. Her major accomplishments

were the restoration of democracy and the crafting of a new
Constitution that limited presidential powers, established a bicameral
legislature, and gave strong emphasis to civil liberties and human
rights. She was married to former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. (27 November 1932 - 21 August
1983), stood against President Ferdinand Marcos who had declared
martial law. His seven-year imprisonment under the dictatorship and
assassination upon his return from exile galvanized the Filipinos to
unite and oppose the dictatorship. This culminated in the peaceful
People Power Revolution. The bronze memorial is in his honor in
Makati City is a popular venue for holding mass movements.
The funeral processions of both President Corazon Aquino and
Senator Benigno Aquino were an outpouring of national grief.
Millions of people stayed on the roads for hours to pay their
respects and to express their deep gratitude to the couple who
dedicated their lives for the country and the Filipinos. On 30 June
2010, their only son Benigno S. Aquino III became the country's
15th President.

The eight-kilometer Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National

Park in Palawan winds through a cave that has major formations of
staltactites and stalagmites that fascinate and mesmerize. Declared
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the pleace has a full mountain-
to-the-sea ecosystem that is also home to rare animals such as the
Philippine cockatoo and the Palawan mouse deer.

The rare Blue-naped Parrot thrives in the lush forests of Palawan

and Mindoro. Parrots are known to be friendly, gentle, and
intelligent.
 INSTRUMENT USED IN
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
ELECTROSTATIC DETECTION APPARATUS
 Questioned Document
Analysis Plates

 Type Angle Instrument Catalog No. 370H

 Typewriter Measuring Instrument Catalog No. 371H
 Block Scale
 Line Scale
 8” Rule Scale
 Handwriting Slope Instrument
 Frequency Measuring Instrument
 Handwriting Letter Slant and Comparison Instrument
Catalog No. 373
 Handwriting Comparison Test Plate
 GLOSSARY:
 Abnormal Writing Condition- is a writing executed
not in a normal condition, such as standing,
walking, lying position.
 Alignment Defects- Includes characters which write
improperly the following respects: twisted letter,
horizontal or vertical mal-alignment, and a character
off-its-feet.
 Altered Documents- it is one that contains some
changes, either as an addition or deletion.
 Angular Style of Writing- a writing wherein most part
specifically the upper and lower strokes forms an
angle or wedge.

 Arc- is the bend, crook or curve on inner side of a

loop of letters such as “b”, “c”, “n”, and “p”. It also
refers to any arcaded form in the body of letters “c”,
“a”, “s” and “o”.
 Ascender- is the top portion of the letter or upper loop
of letters such as; b, d, l, f, I, and k.
 Ballpoint pen- a pen with a tiny rotating ball that pick-
up supply of ink by contact on the reservoir and then
transmit it to the paper.
 Baseline-is the ruled or imaginary line in which the
letter rests.
 Benzene method- a chemical method of ink
examination.
 Block Style of Writing- is characterized by writing in
which all the letters are in capital or printed.
 Blunt- is the beginning and ending stroke of both
small and capital letters, wherein the pen touched
the paper without hesitation, beard , hitch or knob.
 Body – is that part of the letter which ordinarily forms
a small circle, usually lies on the line of writing such
as bodies of a, o, d, g, p, and q.
 Bowl-is the fully rounded oval or circular
formation in a letter which is complete in “o”
and modified in b, d, p, and r.
 Buckle knot- is the horizontal loop that are used

to complete such letters as a, b, h, and k.

 Cacography- is characterized as bad writing.
 Calligraphy-is the art of beautiful writing.
 Carbon Impressions- any typewriting which is
placed on the paper by the action of the
typeface striking through carbon paper.
 Carbon Inks- consists of a finely ground carbon
particles suspended in water.
 History of Printing
 Woodblock printing ………………AD 200
 Movable type……………………..1040 (1450)

 Intaglio………………………….....1430s
 Printing press……………………..1439
 Lithography………………………1796
 Chromolithography………………1837
 Rotary press………………………1843
 Mimeograph……………………….1876
 Flexography……………………….1873s
 Offset press……………………….1903
 Screen-printing……………………1907
 Dye-sublimation…………………..1957
 Photocopier……………………1960s
 Pad printing……………………..1960s
 Laser printer…………………….1969
 Dot matrix printer……………….1970
 Thermal printer
 Inkjet printer……………………..1976
 Digital press……………………..1993
 3D printing……………………….1986
GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS
US ALL !