After 20 Years, This Kit Could Finally Change How We Prove Sexual Assault In Court

Twenty five years of hard work is finally coming to fruition—this time with the goal of helping victims of rape and sexual assault attain the justice they deserve. Researchers at the University of the Philippines Diliman, in partnership with Manila Healthtek Inc., have developed and are set to launch the Sexual Assault Investigation Kit (SAI.Kit), also known as the "rape kit."

The kit serves as a crucial tool for DNA collection which may be used as evidence in court for rape and sexual assault cases involving both men and women. Its commercial release is targeted for the first half of the year and will be made accessible to hospitals and Child Protection Units.

"It is important for them not to hesitate to go to a hospital or any facility familiar with collection procedures using the kit," Miriam Ruth Dalet, one of the university research associates who helped guide the development of the kit, said. 

Victims are advised to use the kit within 72 hours after the incident. "That gives us the best window to find perpetrator DNA, if there is any.. It's objective evidence. Because it is unique to each individual, detecting a DNA profile that does not belong to the patient from proper sampling provides strong evidence of intimate contact," she added.

The development of the kit underwent a rigorous process spanning over two decades. The concept was first introduced in 2003 by University Research Associate Frederick Delfin, who began designing a local rape kit as part of his Master of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology research.

Dr. Maria Corazon A. De Ungria and her team at the UP Diliman Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI) DNA Analysis Laboratory, including Miriam, later further developed the tool.

Miriam shared that "justice can go both ways," explaining that the kit can also help child victims who may not be able to speak for themselves. On the other hand, the kit will also help identify suspects and even clear those who may be wrongly accused.

"A lawyer's role, with support from victim testimony, is to establish that this contact was nonconsensual. In cases involving children or individuals unable to give consent, DNA evidence may constitute compelling proof of sexual assault," Miriam explained.

"In one validation case, the team was able to recover male DNA from a 2-year-old child," she recalled.

The kit comes in a box with an instruction manual available in both English and Filipino. Each package includes two sets. Set A is used for laboratory analysis, while Set B remains with the collecting agency, sealed and unprocessed. Having two sets ensures that evidence is preserved and allows for additional analyses if requested by the court. 

Inside the box are all the tools a health professional may need to collect evidence from victims, including swabs and tubes that are sealed in "tamper-proof" pouches. It also contains materials for collecting other items that may support the case, such as pieces of clothing or underwear.

The kit also includes forms that help document the collected samples and ensure proper chain of custody.

Despite existing laws and legal protections, cases of sexual assault and rape in the Philippines remain alarmingly high. One of the biggest hurdles to justice is still very basic: lack of evidence.

According to Atty. Kristy Jane Balino, Executive Director of the Philippine Institute for Dispute Resolution & Arbitration and board trustee member of the Philippine Association of Law Professors, the responsibility of proving that rape or sexual assault happened still falls heavily on the survivor. This is made harder by limited access to medical and medico-legal experts, who can properly document evidence.

"Due to the often secretive nature of these crimes, finding witnesses or evidence is challenging. Medical and forensic evidence processing centers are limited to metropolitan areas, creating geographical barriers," she told Cosmopolitan Philippines.

Simply put: these cases usually happen in private, with no witnesses—and access to forensic help is often limited outside major cities, making it harder to build cases.

Another key issue is timing. Evidence like DNA, biological samples, and injuries can deteriorate quickly if not examined immediately.

For Atty. Balino, this gap in timely forensic support often results in weak cases, which can discourage survivors from pursuing justice. "Biological samples, DNA, and visible injuries deteriorate rapidly, so timely examinations are crucial to preserve evidence and scientifically establish the assault," Atty. Balino pointed out.

She said the new SAI.Kit helps push for "survivor-centered prosecutions" and more "evidence-based justice."

"For survivors, it broadens access to justice by ensuring their cases are substantiated by scientific evidence, irrespective of geographical location or economic status. For lawyers, it gives a better evidentiary basis for case arguments, mitigates the risk of case dismissal due to technical deficiencies, and enables a focus on developing survivor-centered prosecutions." she emphasized.

Experiencing sexual assault is an incredibly difficult and traumatic experience. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone, and support is available to help you navigate the path to healing and seek justice.

If you feel that you need counseling and/or legal advice for yourself or anyone else, please contact the Violence Against Women (VAW) Desk of the Philippine Commission on Women at (02) 8735-1654 or (02) 8736-5249. You can also reach out to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) to file a complaint by calling (0966) 725-5961 (Globe) or (0919) 777-7377 (Smart). Here is a more complete list of hotlines you can reach out to for further assistance.