FBI to donate automated fingerprint machine to NBI

MANILA, Philippines - The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will donate an automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) machine to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in order to bolster information sharing in tracking down criminals as well as fighting global terrorism between the two law enforcement agencies, according to NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula.

“I hope we could acquire it this year. There is a promise from our friends in the FBI,” Gatdula said, admitting that the NBI could not afford to buy the AFIS machine, the largest biometric database in the world.

While he does not know the exact cost of the AFIS machine, Gatdula said that a similar system being used by the Social Security System (SSS) costs about P1 billion.

“For every applicant, we will get their pictures and biometrics, or fingerprints. We are still working on this since this is part of our information sharing. We have an informal networking already,” he said.

AFIS includes not only fingerprints, but criminal histories, mug shots, scars and tattoo photos, physical characteristic like height, weight, hair and eye color and aliases.

Gatdula said the AFIS is in line with the bureau’s improvement of process and procedures, which include the occasional issuance of NBI clearances.

He said they have 12 million people applying for NBI clearance in a year.

“This (NBI clearance) is the frontline service of the agency. So we like to speed up, lessen the queuing and make it high-tech, like using the biometrics for each applicant,” he said, emphasizing that the biometrics is in preparation for the use of AFIS machines.

The AFIS is a national fingerprint and criminal history system that responds 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help solve and prevent crimes and catch criminals and terrorists. 

It provides automated fingerprint capabilities, latent search capability, electronic image storage and electronic exchange of fingerprints and exchanges.

Gatdula added the NBI has already adopted the information system strategic plan (ISSP), which will eventually be placed in a data center.

“We also still have 39 million unclassified fingerprint cards stocked in the NBI. There should be intervention of technology,” the NBI chief said.

However, he clarified that they are faced with funding problems to bankroll future plans to go high-tech.

“It is a good thing that there are some countries which donate equipment,” he said.

Top FBI officials came to the country last month as the NBI played host to the training conference of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

The training focused on terrorism, transnational crimes, national security in the region and the emerging trends and forces that impact global security.

Early this month, the NBI launched the first-ever Philippine regional office of the FBINAA inside the NBI headquarters in Manila.

Gatdula said all graduates of the FBI academy, both from the NBI and the Philippine National Police, can meet their counterparts in this office.

He said the FBINAA office in the Philippines will acquire a database system that could link up with the FBI for faster communication.