FORENSIC QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

Prepared by:

FELIZ JANE BORNALO, RCRIM

INSTRUCTOR

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 INTRODUCTION

DOCUMENT
A document is any material which contains marks, signs, or symbols, which are visible, partially visible
or invisible that may presently or ultimately convey a meaning or message to someone.
A document becomes questioned document when it is being questioned as to its originality, authenticity,
authorship, source, and genuineness and when it is placed under scrutiny to determine whether or not it it
disputed.

QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
A questioned document is any document about which some issue has been raised or placed under
scrutiny. It is a document that has been questioned in whole or in part with respect to its authenticity,
identity, origin, or its relation among its parts and to other things.
Questioned documents may be disputed or not. In other words, not all questioned documents are
disputed.

QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION/FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

The practice of application of document examination to the purposes of the law.
Questioned Document Examination has been a profession, at least since 1870, and its frequently done in
cases of forgery, counterfeiting, mail fraud, kidnapping, con games, embezzlement, gambling, organized
crime, white collar crime, art crime, theft, robbery, arson, burglary, homicide, serial murder, psychological
profiling, and deviant sex crime.
The examination of questioned document falls into to broad classes:
I. Criminalistic Examination - for detection of forgeries, alterations, and obliteration.
II. Handwriting Identification - to find out who is the author of the writing.
The Criminalistic Examination of questioned document is similar to other kinds of laboratory work. Dr.
Wilsom Harrison, the noted British Examiner of questioned document, says that an intelligent police
investigator can detect almost 75% of all of his magnifiers and measuring tools. The examination of
document in the criminalistic laboratory is also a scientific procedure which can be learned in a very short
time.
Handwriting Identification on the other hand is a more difficult procedure and requires a long study and
experience. Because we recognize the handwriting of other person easily, we think that it is a simple matter
to detect forgery in handwriting. This is not true. The problem is that no person ever writes a letter exactly
the same every time. The handwriting experts have to learn differences of form and structure by a sort of
intuition, which is not easy to reduce to a science. Fot this reason, the police investigator or the laboratory
criminalist should confine his work to the detection of forgeries and erasures and leave the identification of
handwriting to a more qualified document expert.
FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER/QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINER
Refers to persons who study all aspects of a document to determine its authenticity, origin, handwriting,
photocopies, inks and papers.
HOLOGRAPHIC DOCUMENT
Any document completely written and signed by one person.
REFERRENCE COLLECTION
Material compiled and organized by the document examiner to assist him in answering special question.

KINDS OF DOCUMENTS
1. Public Document - a document created, executed or issued by a public official in response to the
exigencies of the public service, or in the execution of which a public official intervened.

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2. Official Document - a document which issued by a public official in the exercise of the functions of his
office.
3. Private Document - every deed or instrument executed by a private person without the intervention of a
notary public or any person legally authorized, by which the documents some disposition or agreement is
provide evidenced or set forth.
4. Commercial Document – Any instrument defined and regulated by the Code of Commerce or other
commercial law.
5. Electronic Document – exist only in electronic form such as date stored on a computer network,
back-up, archive, or other storage media.
6. Paper-based – produced traditionally and manually.

RELATED FIELD OF STUDY

1. Historical dating - It involves the verification of age and worth of document or object.
2. Fraud Investigation - It focuses on the money trail and criminal intent
3. Paper and ink Specialists - These are public or private experts who date, type, source, and/or catalogue
various types of paper, watermarks, ink, printing/copy/fax machines, computer cartridges, etc., using
chemical methods.
4. Forgery Specialists - These are public or private experts who analyze, altered, obliterated, changed, or
doctored documents and photos using infrared lighting and other equipment.
5. Handwriting Analysis - These are psychology experts who assess personality traits from handwriting
samples, also called as graphologist or graphoanalysts.
6. Forensic stylistics - Refers to the same purpose but by looking at semantics, spelling, word choice, syntax
and phraseology.
7. Typewriting Analysis - These are experts on the origin, make and model used in typewritten document.
8. Computer Crime Investigation
9. Imprint Examination – including those produced by manual devices, mechanical devices and electronic
printing devices; also includes those produced by the manufacture of counterfeiters.

Scientific Handwriting Examination consists of three essential phases, namely:

1. Recognition of characteristics (analysis)
2. Complete comparison of all characteristics (comparison)
3. Correct interpretation of characteristics (evaluation)

Processes in Scientific Method of Examination

Analysis - properties or characteristics are observed, measured and determined.
Comparison - properties or characteristics of the unknown items determined thru analysis are compared with
the familiar or recorded properties of known items.
Evaluation - similarities or dissimilarities in property or characteristics that have certain value for
identification are determined by their likelihood or occurrence.
The examination involves, therefore, the recognition, complete comparison, and correct interpretation or
evaluation of the handwriting.

VARIOUS ASPECT OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

The examination of questioned document principally covers the following:

1. Examination of Handwriting (which includes signature) and hand printing for purposes of determining
their genuineness or source;
2. Miscellaneous aspects such as detection of alteration, decipherable of erased writing, restoration of
obliterated writing, determination of age of documents, identification of stamps, seal and other authenticating
devices, currency bills and coins and the like.

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 The identification or so-called “verification” of signature is treated herein as a specialized branch of
handwriting identification.

Classes of Questioned Documents:

 Documents with questioned signatures;
 Documents containing alleged fraudulent alterations;
 Holograph documents;
 Documents questioned as to their age or date;
 Documents questioned as to the material used in their production;
 Documents involving typewriting and are investigated or examined for purposes of determining their
source and date, whether or not it contains fraudulent alterations or substituted pages;
 Documents which may identify a person through his handwriting;
 Genuine documents erroneously and fraudulently attacked or disputed.

Classes of Disputed Signatures:

 Forged signature where no attempt has been made to make a copy or facsimile of the genuine signature
of the person purporting to have signed the document. This is commonly referred to as simple forgery;
 Forged signature which closely resembles the genuine signature since they have been produced by
tracing process referred to as traced forgery;
 Forged signature which resembles the genuine signature written freehand, commonly known as copied or
simulated forgery;
 Forged signature of fictitious people;
 Genuine signature that the writes is honestly unwilling to accept as genuine;
 Genuine signature obtained by trickery;
 Genuine signature deliberately written illegibly or in an unusual manner to avoid identification.

THE STUDY OF HANDWRITING

WRITING - it is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being used a whole, and combination of
certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits acquired by long, continued painstaking effort.
Handwriting - is a visible effect of bodily movements, which is an almost unconscious expression of
certain ideas associated with script form.
SYSTEM OF WRITING - is the combination of basic design of letters and writing movements as taught in
school.
NATURAL WRITING - is any specimen of writing executed normally without any attempt to control or
alters its identifying habits and its usual quality of execution.
DISGUISED WRITING - is a way of writing in which the writer deliberately tries to alters his usual writing
habits in the hope of hiding his identity.
CURSIVE WRITING - is a style of writing in which the letters are for the most part joined together.
HAND LETTERING - is any disconnected style of writing in which the letters are written separately.
HOLOGRAPH DOCUMENTS - is a document which is completely written and signed by one person.
SIGNATURE - is one’s name written by himself on a document as a sign of acknowledgment.
WRITING HABIT - is any repeated element or detail that may serve to individualize writing.
SIGNIFICANT WRITING HABIT - is term applied to any characteristic of handwriting which is
sufficiently unique and well-fixed to serve as a fundamental point in the identification of the writer.
CHARACTERISTIC - is any property or mark which distinguishes and, in questioned document
examination, commonly refers to identifying details.
Two Kinds of Characteristics:
1. Class Characteristics are identifying details which are common to a group.

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2. Individual Characteristics are characteristics which are highly personal and peculiar and are unlikely to
occur in other instances.

DEVELOPMENT OF HANDWRITING
1. Drawing Stage
2. Adolescence Stage/Manner of Execution
3. Stage of Subject Matter
4. Stage of Degeneration

STYLES OF HANDWRITING
1. Cursive - means running, connected, writing in which one letter is joined to the next.
2. Script - separated or printed writings.
3. BLOCK - ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

TYPES OF SIGNATURE
1. Handwritten Signature
2. Electronic Signature
3. Autopen Signature
4. Stamp Signature
5. Guided Signature
6. Model Signature

IMPORTANCE OF SIGNATURE
1. Evidence
2. Ceremony
3. Approval
4. Efficiency and Logistics

PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF HANDWRITING

The impulse to form a letter begins in the brain’s writing center in the cortex. The importance of this
center is that when it becomes diseased, one losses the ability to write although the person could still grasp a
pen. Since writing in the mind, emotion and attitudes both path of the mind influence how we write.
In writing, the pen functions as an extension of the hand. Hence, as each writer has his own way of
holding his hand, manipulating the pen and exerting pressure, the same pen in different hands will produce
entirely different strokes.
The hand contains two groups of muscles which function in the act of writing. A group of extensor
muscles pushes up the pen to form the upward strokes and the flexor muscles pushes up the pen to form
downward strokes. This flexor and extensor muscles are combined with lumbrical muscles to form the lateral
strokes.
Generally speaking, four groups of muscles are employed in writing. Those which operate the joints of
the fingers, wrist, elbow and shoulder. The delicate way in which the various muscles used in writing work
together to produce written forms is known as “motor coordination”.

PRINCIPLES OF HANDWRITING ANALYSIS

1. No two writers write exactly alike
2. The physical writing condition and position of the person including his writing instrument may affect the
handwriting characteristics but they do not confine all its identifying elements.
3. A writer cannot exceed his maximum writing ability or skill without serious effort and training applied
over a period of time.

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4. The combination of handwriting characteristics including those derived from form and writing movements
are essential elements of identification.
5. Individuality in handwriting can only be determined through comparative examination with the standard
written or prepared under comparable condition
6. Similarity does not mean identity
7. Complete identity means definite forgery
8. A writing was written by one person when there is a sufficient number of identical writing habits and
identical primary controlling characteristics and addition, the absence of divergent characteristics.
9. A writing was not written by one person when there is a sufficient number of divergent writing
characteristics and the absence of identical primary controlling characteristics.

TERMINOLOGIES RELATED TO HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION AND EXAMINATION

1. Alignment – The relation of the parts of the whole of writing or line of individual letters in words to the baseline.
2. Angular form – sharp, straight strokes that are made by stopping the one and changing direction before continuing.
3. Arcade forms – forms that look like arches; rounded on top and open at the bottom.
4. Bow - the part of the letter or character of signature or handwriting which formed like a bow of an arrow or simply a
curved stroke aligned in a vertical direction.
5. Collation – side by side comparison
6. Comparison – The act of setting two or more items side by side to weigh their identifying qualities
7. Dextral
8. Disguised writing – A writer may deliberately try to alter his usual writing habits of hiding his identity.
9. Down strokes – the movement of the pen toward the writer
10. Form – the writer’s chosen writing style.
11. Garland forms – A cup-like connected form that is open at the top and rounded on the bottom.
12. Gestalt – “complete”, “whole”
13. Graphoanalysis – the study of handwriting based on the tow fundamental strokes, the curve and the
straight strokes.
14. Graphometry – analysis and comparison and measurement
15. Graphology – the art of determining character disposition and amplitude of a person from the study of
handwriting.
16. Hand lettering – any disconnected style of writing in which each letter is written separately.
17. Left handed writing
18. Letter Space – the amount of space left between letters.
19. Line Direction – it is the movement of the baseline.
20. Line Quality – the overall character of the ink lines from the beginning to the ending strokes.
21. Line Space – the amount of space left between lines.
22. Manuscript writing – a disconnected form of script or semi-script writing.
23. Margins – the amount of space left around the writing on all four sides.
24. Movement
MOVEMENTS IN HANDWRITING
 Finger Movement – The thumb, the first, the second and slightly the third finger are in actual
motion.
 Hand Movement – Produced by the movement or action of the whole hand with the wrist as the
center of attraction.
 Forearm Movement – the movement of the shoulder, hand and arm with the support of the table.
 Whole-arm Movement – action of the entire arm without resting.
25. Natural Writing – any specimen of writing executed normally without any attempt to control or alter its
identifying habits and its usual quality and execution.
26. Natural Variation – these are normal or usual deviations found between repeated specimens of any
individual handwriting.
27. Pen emphasis – the act of intermittently forcing the pen against the paper surfaces.
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28. Pen Hold – the place where the writer grasps the barrel of the pen and the angle at which he holds it.
29. Pen position – relationship between the pen point and the paper. The orientation of the writing
instrument.
30. Pen pressure – the average force with which the pen contacts the paper.
31. Print Script – A creative combination of printing and cursive writing
32. Proportion and Ratio - the relation between the tall and the short letter
33. Quality – the distinct and peculiar characters. Also, quality is used in describing handwriting to refer to
any identifying factor that is related to the writing movement itself.
34. Rhythm – the element of writing movement, which is marked by regular or periodic
recurrences. It may be classed as smooth, intermittent, or jerky in its quality; the flourishing succession of
motion which are recorded in a written record.
35. Shading – is the widening of the ink strokes due to the addHed pressure on a flexible pen point or to the
use of a stub pen.
36. Significant Writing Habit – any characteristic of handwriting that is sufficiently uncommon and well-
fixed to serve as a fundamental point in the identification.
37. Simplification – eliminating extra or superfluous strokes from the copybook form.
38. Size -
39. Skill – relative degrees or ability or skill and a specimen of handwriting usually contains evidence of the
writer’s proficiency; degree, ability, or skill of a write proficiency.
40. Slope/Slant – the angle or inclination of the axis of the letters relative to the baseline.
41. Speed of writing – the personal pace at which the writer’s pen moves across the paper.
42. Thread form – an indefinite connective form that looks flat and wavy
43. Variation – the act or process of changing
44. Word Space – the amount of space between words.
45. Writing Conditions – circumstances which the writing was prepared and factors influencing the writer’s
ability to write at the time of execution.
46. Writing Habits – any repeated element in one’s handwriting.
47. Writing impulse – the result of the pen touching down on the paper and moving across the page, until it is
raised from the paper.
48. Wrong-Handed Writing – any writing executed with the opposite hand that normally used; a.k.a as “with
the awkward hand”.
49. Reprographic examination – refers to examination of documents which include photocopies, facsimile,
photographs and the like.
50. Rubric or embellishment – refers to the additional unnecessary strokes to legibly of letter forms or
writings but incorporated in writing for decorative or ornamental purposes.

TERMINOLOGIES CONCERNING STROKE CHARACTERISTICS

1. ARC - a curved formed inside the top curve of loop/as in small letter “h”, “m”, “n”, “p”.
2. ARCH – any arcade form in the body of a letter found in small letters which contain arches.
3. ASCENDER – is the top portion of a letter or upper loop.
4. APEX – the uppermost point of a character.
5. BASELINE – maybe actually on a ruled paper, it might be imaginary alignment of writing. It is ruled or
imaginary line upon which the writing rests.
6. BEADED – preliminary embellished initial stroke which usually occurs in capital letters.
7. BEARD – is the rudimentary initial up stroke of a letter.
8. BLUNT – the beginning and ending stroke of a letter (without hesitation).
9. BOWL – a fully rounded oval or circular form on a letter complete into “o”.
10. BUCKLE/BUCKLENOT – a loop made as a flourished which is added to the letters, as a small letter “k
and a” or in capital letter “A”, “K”, “I”.

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11. CACOGRAPHY – a bad writing
12. CALLIGRAPHY – the art of beautiful writing
13. CONNECTING STROKE – a line joining two adjacent characters
14. CROSS STROKE – a stroke that crosses another portion of the character and is attached at either end.
15. CROSSBAR – a stroke that intersects other portions of the character at both ends.
16. DESCENDER – opposite of ascender, the lower portion of a letter.
17. DIACRITIC – “t” crossing and dots of the letter “I” and “j”. The matters of the Indian script are also
known as diacritic signs.
18. DRAG STROKE – a stroke resulting from incomplete lifting of the pen.
19. ENDING/TERMINATE STROKE OF TOE – the end of a letter.
20. EYE/EYELET/EYELOOP – a small loop or curve formed inside the letters.
21. FOOT – the lower part which rest on the base line.
22. HABITS – any repeated elements or details, which may serve to individuals writing.
23. HESITATION – the irregular thickening of ink which is found when writing slows down or stop while
the pen take a stock of at the position.
24. HIATUS/PEN JUMP – A gap occurring between a continuous strokes without lifting the pen. Such as
occurrence usually occurs due to speed. It may be regarded also as special form of pen lift.
25. HOOK – it is a minute curve or an ankle which often occurs at the end of the terminal strokes/it is also
sometimes occur at the beginning of an initial strokes.
26. HUMP – the rounded outside of the top of the bend stroke or curve in small letter.
27. INDENTATION – latent or visible impressions in paper or other media.
28. KNOB – the extra deposit of ink in the initial and terminal stroke due to the slow withdrawal of the pen
from the paper (usually applicable to fountain pen.
29. LIGATURE/CONNECTION – the stroke which connects two stroke of letter.
30. LONG LETTER – those letters with both upper and lower loops.
31. OVAL – the portion of the letter which is oval in shape.
32. PATCHING – retouching or going back over a defective portion of a written stroke. Careful is common
defect on forgeries.
33. PEN LIFT – an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the writing instrument from the paper.
34. RETRACE/RETRACING – any part of a stroke which is super imposed upon the original stroke.
Example; vertical strokes of the letters “d”, “t” while coming downward from the top to bottom will have a
retracing strokes.
35. SHOULDER – outside portion of the top curve seen in small letters.
36. SPUR – a short initial or terminal stroke.
37. STAFF – any major long downward stroke of a letter that is long stroke of the letter.
38. STEM OR SHANK – the upright long downward stroke that is the trunk or stalk, normally seen in capital
letters.
39. TICK/HITCH – any short stroke, which usually occurs at the top of the letters.
40. TREMOR – a writing weakness portrayed irregular shaky strokes is described as writing tremor.
41. Tremor of Fraud – The characteristics of tremor of fraud are inequality in movement at any place in any
stroke or line, with strokes too strong and vigorous combined with weak, hesitating strokes, interruptions in
movement in movement, unequal distribution of ink on upward or varying pen pressure.
42. Tremor of age, or of extreme weakness
43. WHIRL – the long upward stroke of the ascender.
44. BULBS – a small circular enclosure.
45. FEATHERING – spreading of ink in the paper.
46. GRADUATED OR EXPLOSIVE SHADING – when the shading in a letter gradually increases or
decreases, it is called shading. If it is irregular, it is called “explosive” shading.

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TYPES OF CHARACTERISTICS
1. General Characteristics – these characteristics refer to those habits which are part of basic writing system.
2. National Characteristics – these refer to the extent that writing system within a country share common
features and induce class characteristics in the writing of its people, different from other countries.
3. Accidental Characteristics – these are isolated, brief or temporary digression from normal writing practices
observed in writing standards.
4. Individual Characteristics – these are characteristics which are the result of the writer’s muscular control,
coordination, age, health, nervous, temperament, frequency, personality and character.
- Permanent
- Common or usual- Occasional
- Rare

DETECTION AND EXAMINATION OF FORGERIES

DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. FALSEMAKING - the creation of fraudulent writing on a document or the alteration of an existing
document.
2. FALSIFICATION - in QD context, it pertains to the act of adding and substituting, erasing and
obliterating on original entry, be it punctuation marks, signs, symbols, numerals, characters and or letters in a
document.
3. COUNTERFEITING - the crime of making, circulating, uttering false coins and bank notes.
4. FORGERY - the act of falsely making and materially altering, with intent to defraud, any writing which if
genuine, might be legal efficacy or the foundation.

TYPES AND METHODS OF FORGERY

1. Simple Forgery
2. Simulated Forgery
3. Traced Forgery
4. Optical Forgery
5. Auto Forgery

INDICATORS OF FORGERY
1. Tremors
2. No rhythm
3. Carefulness or unusual care
4. No contrast between thin and thick stroke
5. Slow writing
6. Blunt ending and beginning
7. Absence of spontaneity
8. Restrained writing
9. No variation

INDICATIONS OF SIMULATED AND TRACED FORGERIES

1. Tremulous and broken connecting strokes between letters, indicating points at
which the writer has temporary struck
2. No rhythm
3. Carefulness or unusual care and deliberation
4. No contrast between upward and downward strokes
5. Slow writing – angular writing
6. Blunt beginning and endings

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7. Placement of diacritical marks just over the stem of the letters
8. Absence of spontaneity – lack of smoothness of letters
9. Restrained writing
10. No variation

INDICATIONS OF GENUINE WRITING

1. Carelessness
2. Spontaneity
3. Alternation of thin and thick strokes
4. Speed
5. Simplification
6. Upright letters are interspersed with slanting letters
7. Upwards strokes to a threadlike tracing
8. Rhythm
9. Good line quality
10. Variation

IDENTIFICATION OF SIGNATURES
The identification or the so-called “verification” of signature is a specialized branch of handwriting
examination for the following reasons:
1. A signature is a word most practiced by many people and therefore most fluently written;
2. A signature is a means to identify a person and has a great personal significance;
3. A signature is written with little attention to spelling and some other details;
4. A signature is a word written without conscious thought about the mechanics of its production and is
written automatically;
5. A signature is the only word the illiterate can write with confidence.

Characteristics of a Genuine Signature

 Degree of Skill - genuine signature even if showing tremors will show some free, connecting, and
terminal strokes made by the momentum of the hand;
 Firmness of Strokes - in genuine signatures, hesitations and stops are on natural places;
 Habitual Speed of Writing - even in slow and unskillful signatures, there will be consistency in speed;
 Fundamental Muscular Movement - in genuine signatures, the upward strokes show more smoothness
and freedom than the downward strokes;
 Pattern of Shading and Pen Emphasis;
 Presence of Natural Variation - as no two signatures are exactly alike, a certain amount of natural
variation is expected and consequently allowed for letter design;
 Coordination, continuity, and rhythm in writing;
 Carelessness in strokes and movements.

Example of a genuine signature and questioned signature:

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DETECTION OF FORGERY
Forgery is committed by any person who, with intent to defraud, signed the name of another person, or
of a fictitious person, knowing that he has no authority to do so; or falsely makes, alters, forges, or
counterfeits any check, draft and due-bills for the payment of money or property, or counterfeits or forges the
seal or handwriting of another knowing the same to be fake, altered, or forged or counterfeit with intent to
prejudice, damage or defraud any person.

KINDS OF FORGERY
A. Simple Forgery
This kind of forgery is best termed as a “spurious signature”. In committing fraud, the forger who is
confronted with the absence to produce a facsimile of the genuine, but merely signs the name in his own,
or in a modified (disguised) handwriting, and then contrives some means of passing the document as his
own with intent to gain before the obvious fraud is discovered.

B. Simulated Forgery/Freehand Forgery

In simulated or traced forgeries, the motion of the pen is slow and careful. The beginning and ending
lines are usually blunt or clumsy in appearance. There are simulated forgeries written by expert forger
which are passed off as genuine simply because untrained eyes can only judge the signature by its
general appearance or pictorial effect but cannot detect the minutiae.

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 Another Example of Simulated Forgery

C. Traced Forgery
A traced forgery is the result of an attempt to transfer to a fraudulent document an exact facsimile of
a genuine signature or writing by some tracing process. It is any fraudulent signature executed by
actually following the outline of a genuine signature with a writing instrument.

Different Process of Tracing

1. “Carbon processes or Carbon outline method”

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 A carbon paper is placed between the genuine signature (top sheet) and the fraudulent document (below).
Outline of model signature is traced with dry pen or pointed instrument to make a carbon offset on the lower
sheet. Outline is finally re-written or retraced with suitable ink strokes.
2. Indentation process

An intended or “canal-like” outline of the genuine signature is produced in the fraudulent document
(lower sheet) by tracing (with suitable pressure or force) the outline of the genuine signature (top sheet) with
a pointed instrument. The outline is then directly inked in some instances. The outline is first retraced lightly
with a pencil before it is finally retraced with suitable ink.

3. Projection process or “transmitted-light process”

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 * a traced signature using transmitted light
A spurious document is placed immediately over the genuine signature, with strong light directed
through the two sheets of paper from below or behind. The outline that is seen through the upper sheet is then
traced.
A traced forgery in most cases is a clumsy forgery for it is usually poor piece of work. It is the easiest to
detect because it is not actually writing but drawing.

Traced forgery will probably be defective in one or more of the following:

1. Natural movement, freedom and speed of writing

Natural, free, unconscious writing cannot be produced by tracing process. Even to trace one’s own
handwriting and to produce a good result is impossible for the method itself interferes with the natural
writing movement.

2. Quality of line or stoke

A fraudulent tracing may conform to the model with some accuracy but its hesitating, unnatural,
defective line quality will sufficiently show its non-genuineness.

3. Pen lifts, retouching, and shading

Pen lifts may be covered with gaps filled in. A traced forgery is not entirely as satisfactory to the forger
as first written, and the forger, knowing the signature is not genuine, is its most severe critic, and tries to
perfect it by improving it with connecting, patching, and correcting certain parts such as wavering lines,
which are delicately spliced on, and flourishes which are carefully added to signatures.

4. Selection and date of model signature

Many writers, especially those in advanced age, make radical changes in their signature and one who is
producing a traced forgery may select a model or genuine signature of the wrong date. Many forgers assume
that any signature is good enough for a model even when this was made years after the date of the questioned
writing.

5. Pencil, carbon or indentation outlines pointing to a tracing process

The model of tracing may show indentation from tracing of the model’s outline with a sharp or pointed
instrument. Tracing may show portions or suspicious remains of pencil or carbon outline. It may show
portions of the ink of the suspected writing to be cracked, broken, rubbed off or worn away by erasure of a
previously made pencil or carbon outline. Herein lies the most important possible attack upon a traced
forgery.

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The only positive proof that a forged signature is a tracing instead of a simulation is any one of the
following:
1. Discovery of the actual model or genuine signature from which it was made;
2. Discovery of two or more identical common forgeries which could only have been made from one model or
original;
3. Presence of pencil, carbon or indented outlines that point to the tracing process.

SUGGESTED STEPS IN THE EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURE

Signatures in documents presented to the bank must be examined exhaustively and scrutinized in every
detail to avoid errors in judgment.
The difference between a layman’s observation and those with special training in signature verification
lies on the fact that the former is much concerned with the obvious and gross features in the signature while
the latter makes an exhaustive study of the minute details.

 Juxtapose the questioned and the standard signatures for a simultaneous viewing of the various elements
and characteristics.
 The first element to be considered is the movement employed or manner of execution.
 Second element to examine is the quality of line.
 Examine the beginning and ending lines. They are very significant.
 Design and structure of the letters.
 Look for the presence of retouching or patching.
 Connecting strokes, slant ratio, size and lateral spacing.
 Do not rely so much on the similarity or difference of the capital letters, for these are often changed
according to the whim of the writer.

Some Characteristics That Serves As The Basis of Signature Verification

In the eyes of most layman, letter-form is a highly prominent factor. However, it is not the entire picture.
Like identifying a person, physical appearance might be a means of recognition, but not a complete
description. In handwriting, the qualities of movement are even more essential to accurate identification.

CLASSIFICATION OF MOVEMENTS
1. As to quality
a. Clumsy, illiterate and halting
b. Hesitating and painful due to weakness and illness
c. Strong, heavy, and forceful
d. Nervous and irregular
e. Smooth, flowing and rapid
2. As to speed
a. Slow and drawn
b. Deliberate
c. Average
d. Rapid
Indication of Speed and Rapidness in Writing
a. Smooth unbroken strokes
b. Misplaced and misshaped i-dots and t-crosses
c. Joining of initials or of words
d. Letters are tapered illegibly towards the end of words
e. Marked difference in pressure on up and down strokes
f. Wide writing and spacing
g. Simplification of letters, especially in capitals

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Indication of Slowness in Writing
a. Broken strokes and wavy lines
b. i-dots and t-crosses made and placed perfectly
c. Pauses, unnecessary marks and angles retouching
d. Carefully made final pen pressure and spacing
e. Narrow writing and spacing
f. Little difference in pressure on up and down strokes
g. Ornamental or flourishing letters
Evidence of Naturalness in Writing
a. A general rhythmic writing throughout
b. Smooth, unbroken strokes in writing
c. Finely tapered strokes both at the beginning and ending of letters
d. Tendency towards illegibility especially towards the end of signature or other words indicating great
speed.
Primary Signs of Forgery
a. Slow, broken strokes and wavy lines
b. Unnecessary retouching or patching
c. Lack of difference in pressure on up and down strokes
d. Blunt starting and ending strokes
e. Meaningless markings and dots caused by a false start
f. Shading in more than one direction caused by an effort to imitate line

GROUPS OF CHARACTERISTICS
1. Common Class Characteristics
They are those which conform to the general style acquired when one was learning to write and
which is fashionable at a particular time and place. It is the style taught to the child in school or by the
parents. Not all characteristics encountered in document examination are peculiar to a single person, but
rather common to a group.
Example of common characteristics or qualities;
 Ordinary copybook form

 Usual systematic slant

 Ordinary scale of proportion or ratio

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 Conventional spacing

2. Individual or Personal Characteristics

They are those introduced into the handwriting, consciously or unconsciously by the writer. They
are highly personal or peculiar and are unlikely to occur in other instances.
Examples of some of the individual characteristics
 hook to the right and hook to the left

 Shape, position, size and angle or “i” dots and “t” crossing

 Idiosyncrasies

 Bulbs and distinctive initials and final pen pressure

 Embellishment, added strokes, and free movement

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 Abbreviation of letters

 Simple and compound curves and graceful ending

 Labored movement producing ragged lines

 Terminal shading and forceful ending

PREPARATION OF STANDARDS AND CARE IN HANDLING OF DOCUMENTS

*In order to arrive in a reliable conclusion, the examiner needs genuine documents for comparison to the
questioned document. The known materials needed for comparison purposes are known as STANDARDS.

STANDARD DOCUMENT
“Standard” in questioned document investigation refers to those things whose origin are known and can
be proven and which can be legally used as samples to compare with other matters in questioned.
In handwriting identification, the standard of comparison or what is commonly referred to as the basis of
comparison consists of known authenticated writing of a person.
Standards of comparison are classified into two groups as follows:
1. Procured or Collected Standard - those which can be obtained from files of document executed in the
course of a person’s day to day business, official, social or personal activities.
2. Requested Standard - those which are given or made upon request of an investigator for purposes of
making a comparative examination with the questioned writing.

BASIC POINTS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN OBTAINING STANDARDS

A. Procured or Collected Standard
1. Amount of standard writing available
2. Similarity of subject matter
3. Relative date of the questioned signature or writing with the standards
4. Conditions under which known writing or signature is prepared
5. Kinds of instrument and paper used

B. Requested Standard
The following steps are aimed at minimizing, if not eliminating, disguise in the writing of the subject or
person being required to furnish his handwriting specimens:
1. Questioned material must be dictated
2. Dictated text must be carefully selected
3. Adequate amount of writing must be included
4. Some portions of dictation must be repeated at least three times
5. Writing instrument and paper used should be similar to those used in the questioned document

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6. Dictation should be interrupted at intervals so that the suspect will feel relaxed and will write his own
natural writing. Rest between dictations usually makes a writer forget about his previous writing.
7. Normal writing condition should be arranged

DO’S AND DON'T S IN HANDLING AND PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS

“DO’s”
1. Keep documents unfolded in protective envelope
2. Take disputed papers to the document examiner’s laboratory at the first opportunity
3. If storage is necessary, keep the document in a dry place free from excessive heat and strong light
“DON’T s”
1. Do not handle documents excessively or carry them in a pocket for a long time
2. Do not mark questioned documents (either by consciously writing or by pointing at them with writing
instruments or dividers)
3. Do not allow anyone except qualified specialist to make chemical or other tests. Do not treat or dust for
latent fingerprints before consulting a document examiner.
4. Do not mutilate or damage by repeated refolding, creasing, and cutting, tearing or punching for filing
purposes.
ALTERATION OF DOCUMENTS AND DISGUISED WRITING

TYPES OF ALTERATIONS
1. Abrasion - any forms of erasures using rubber eraser or scraped with a sharp object, such as knife or
razor blade.
2. Chemical Eradication - chemicals bleach the color from the ink and in some cases remove the ink from
the paper.
3. Obliterations - the act of covering the material in question with an opaque substance.
4. Insertion and Substitution - one page or more pages is/are added or removed from the document.
5. Addition - introduction of words/figures not originally part of the document.
6. Interlineations or Intercalation - introduction of words/figures between lines.
7. Folds - folds in a document may indicate a substitution particularly if the folds in substituted pages do
not match.
8. Cut annd paste
9. Electronic Alterations

DISGUISED WRITING
Natural writing refers to any specimen of writing executed normally without any attempt to control or
alter its identifying habits and its usual quality and execution.

METHODS OF DISGUISED
1. Change in slant
2. Altered letter forms
3. Use of block letters
4. Other hand writing
5. Change of writing instrument
6. Change of speed

SIGNS OF DISGUISED
1. Inconsistencies within the writing’
2. Poor rhythm
3. Erratic movement followed by smooth rhythmic writing
4. Slowness and hesitation

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 MONEY COUNTERFEITING

IDENTIFICATION OF BSP BANK NOTES AND COINS

The following are the characteristics, designs and distinct features of BSP banknotes:

 PAPER - Feel the paper - the genuine note is printed on a special kind of paper which is rough
when you run your fingers through it. It does not glow under the ultra-violet light. During paper
manufacture, the watermarks, security fiber, security threads and iridescent band are included.
 WATERMARK - Examine the watermarks on the unprinted portion of the note - the
watermark is the silhouette of the portrait appearing on the face of the note. Sharp details of the light
and shadow effect can be seen when the note is viewed against the light.
 SECURITY FIBERS - Inspect the security fibers - embedded red and blue visible fibers are
scattered at random on both surfaces of a genuine note and can be readily picked off by means of
any pointed instrument.
 EMBEDDED SECURITY THREAD - View the embedded security thread - the embedded
security thread is a special thread vertically implanted off center of the note during paper
manufacture. This can easily be seen when the note is viewed against the light.
 WINDOWED SECURITY THREAD - the windowed security thread is a narrow security thread
vertically located like “stitches” at the face of the note with a clear text of the numerical value in
repeated sequence and changes in color from magenta to green or green to magenta depending on
the angle of view.
 IRIDESCENT BAND - a wide glistening gold vertical stripe with the numerical value printed in
series.
 PORTRAIT - appears life-like. The eyes “sparkle”. Shading is formed by the fine lines that give the
portrait a characteristic facial expression which is extremely difficult to replicate.
 SERIAL NUMBER - composed of 1 or 2 prefix letters and 6 or 7 digits. The letters and numerals
are uniform in size and thickness, evenly spaced and well-aligned; They glow under ultra-violet
light.
 BACKGROUND/LACEWORK DESIGN - the background designs are made up of multicolored
and well-defined lines. The lacework designs are composed of web-crossing lines which are
continuous and traceable even at the intersection.
 VIGNETTE - the lines and dashes composing the vignette are fine, distinct and sharp; the varying
color gives a vivid look to the picture that makes it “stand out” of the paper.
 VALUE PANEL - the numerals denote the denomination of the note.
 FLOURESCENT PRINTING - the flourescent print is the invisible numerical value located off of
the center of the face of the note that glows when exposed to ultra-violet light.
 MICROPRINTING - microprinting are the minute and finely printed words “Banko Sentral ng
Pilipinas” or “Central Bank of the Philippines” located at the face or back of the note that are clearly
printed and readable.
 CONCEALED VALUE - this concealed value is located at the lower left corner of the face of the
note and is recognizable when the note is held at eye level.
 OPTICALLY VARIABLE INK - it changes color from green to blue or blue to green when the
note is held at different angles.

All banknotes include a number of security features, indicated on the front side:

1. embossed prints

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 2. serial number (in variable sized figures)
3. security fibers
4. watermark
5. see-through mark ("Pilipino" spelled in Baybayin, letters, used before the arrival of the Spanish.)
6. concealed value
7. security thread
8. optically variable device (only on 500 and 1000 peso notes)

20 Peso

The front or obverse shows President Manuel L. Quezon (1878-1940), president of the Philippine
Commonwealth from 1935 until 1944, and considered the Father of the National Language. This note, like
the previous 20 Peso note, commemorates the declaration of Filipino as the National Language in 1935. The
Malacañan, the Philippine presidential palace, has moved to the front.

On the back or reverse, you'll find the Banaue Rice Terraces and a Palm civet, and a woven design from the
Cordilleras.

The Banaue Rice Terraces have been carved into the Cordilleras mountains in central Luzon by Ifugao
tribesmen over thousands of years with very limited means.
The palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus philippinensis) is an indigenous animal in the Philippines, and
curiously related to the most expensive coffee in the world, the coffee alamid, which is made from coffee
beans eaten and partly digested by palm civets, and collected from their droppings.

50 Peso

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The front shows President Sergio Osmeña (1878-1961), was President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946.
He had already become a member of the assembly in 1907, at the age of 29. He was also present with the
1944 landing of General Douglas McArthur in 1944. The "Leyte Landing" monument on Palo beach, Leyte,
that commemorates this event is also shown here.

The back displays Taal Lake and the giant trevally, and embroidery design from Batangas.

Taal Lake is the deepest freshwater lake in the country. Taal volcano, an island in the middle of this lake is
one of the worlds smallest volcano's, and is still regularly active.

The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is a fish that only lives in the water of Taal Lake. It is locally known as
Maliputo, and considered highly delicious.

100 Peso

President Manuel A. Roxas (1892-1948) is honored on the front of the 100 Peso note. He was the first
president of the Philippines after independence, and died in office from a heart attack in 1948. Further
depicted is the Inauguration of the Third Republic on 4 July 1946, and the Central Bank of the Philippines, of
which Roxas initiated the foundation.

Some nationalists are happy that the American flag that was on the previous note has been removed in this
redesign. However, the United States eagle, as well as the Spanish lion remain on the Philippine coat of arms
depicted on all Philippine notes.

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The back depicts Mayon Volcano and a whale shark, and indigenous textile from Bicol.

Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano in the province of Albay, in the Bicol Region. This volcano is
famous for its almost perfect cone shape.

The whale shark, (Rhincodon typus), locally known as the butanding, is the largest living fish in the world,
and can be found in Sorsogon, not far from Mayon Volcano. Although it is a member of the shark family, it
is a gentle giant that feeds on plankton, and poises no danger to humans.

200 Peso

The front carries the portrait of president Diosdado P. Macapagal (1910-1997), father of former president
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who also still poses on this note, but now neatly tucked away in the lower-left
corner, commemorating EDSA People Power II. Also shown here is the Barasoain Church in Malolos,
Bulacan, where in 1898 General Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spanish colonial rule.

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The back side shows the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, a Philippine tarsier, and textile designs from the Visayas.

The Chocolate Hills are a characteristic karst landscape in central Bohol, named after the chocolate-brown
color they acquire at the end of the dry season. The exact number of those 30 to 50 meter high mounds is
under dispute, but some claim to have counted 1268.

The Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) is a shy nocturnal animal, that can be found in Bohol. One of the
smallest primates in the world, it can be held in one's hand, but still is capable to make jumps of three meters
between trees. Besides Bohol, it can be found in Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.

500 Peso

On the front of the 500 peso note, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. (1932-1983) - no longer frowning - is now
joined by his wife, President Corazon C. Aquino (1933-2009), who became president after the non-violent
People Power revolution ousted Marcos from office. This side further depicts the crowds who participated in
the People Power revolution and the monument for Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.

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The back shows the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a blue-naped parrot, and woven cloth from the
Southern Philippines.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is an eight kilometer long underground river on Palawan, that winds
through a huge cave.

The blue-naped parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis) lives in the primary forests of Palawan and Mindoro.

1000 Peso

The 1000 peso note is the only one not to depict a former president. On it are three World War II heros:
Josefa Llanes Escoda (1898-1945), Vicente P. Lim (1888-1944), and Jose Abad Santos (1886-1942).

Josefa Llanes Escoda was an advocate for women's rights, educator and social worker. She founded the Girl
Scouts of the Philippines, and edited a newspaper. She was killed for helping prisoners of war during the
Japanese occupation.

Brigadier General Vicente P. Lim, was Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army, who, although wounded,
organized guerrilla activities. He was captured and killed by the Japanese.

Jose Abad Santos was the Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court. He refused to cooperate with the
Japanese occupation forces, and was executed for that.

The reverse shows the Tubattaha Reef Marine Park, a South Sea pearl oyster, and tinalak or ikat-dyed abaca
cloth from Mindanoa.

Tubattaha Reef Marine Park, a nature reserve of 130,000 hectares in the Sulu Sea is a unique underwater
ecosystem. This huge coral reef is home to whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks, and hundreds species of fish.

25 Forensic Questioned Document Examination

The South Sea pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) can grow some of the largest pearls in the world.

GENERAL FEATURES OF THE NEW BSP COINS

PERTINENT LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF

THE CURRENCY

1. Article 163, RPC. Making and importing and uttering (issuing or circulating) false coins.

26 Forensic Questioned Document Examination

2. Article 166, RPC. Forging treasury or bank notes or other documents payable to bearer; importing, and
uttering (issuing or circulating) such false or forged notes and documents.
3. Article 168, RPC. Illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit.
4. Article 176, RPC. Manufacturing and possession of instrument or implements for falsification.
5. PD 247 - defacement, mutilation, tearing, burning or destruction of CENTRAL BANK (BSP) notes and
coins.
6. CHAPTER II, CIRCULAR 61, SERIES OF 1995. reproduction and/or use of facsimile of legal tender
Philippine currency coins.
7. CHAPTER III, CIRCULAR 61, SERIES OF 1995. reproduction and/or use of facsimile of legal tender
Philippine currency coins.
MATERIAL USED TO CREATE DOCUMENTS

PAPER
❖ These are sheets of interlaced fibers –usually cellulose fibers from plants, but sometimes from cloth
rags or other fibrous materials, that is formed by pulping the fibers and causing to felt, or mat, to form a solid
surface.

MANUFATURING PAPER
❖ Cooking process - the pulpwood will be chipped into small pieces that are then mixed with chemicals
and fed into pressure vessels called digester to soften the lignin, which binds the fibers together.
❖ Washing, screening, cleaning, and, if necessary, bleaching to the desired brightness.
❖ Next, the fibers are combined with pigments, dyes, and sizing. These fibers flow onto a moving
screen called a Fourdrinier, on which the fibers mat, forming a continuous sheet of paper with much of the
water drawn through the screen into collection tanks to be recycled.
❖ Then, the web of pulp passes through heavy rollers, which press moisture from the sheet.
❖ Drying stage – evaporation of the remaining water in the pulp of fibers
❖ The paper then passes through series of calendar stacks that sooth the paper.
❖ Pressing process – the paper passes over a dandy roll, which imprints the watermark on the paper.

TYPES OF PAPERS FOR PRINTING OR WRITING

A. Newsprint Least expensive paper manufactured.
Composed of ground wood
Principal asset is opacity
B. Bond paper Originally used to print stocks and bonds
Usually made from cottons
C. Lightweight Uncoated papers
Usually made from manifold papers made from wood fibers
D. Specialty Coated on both sides to transfer date from one page to another
Contains special finishes
E. Gummed For labels and it has curl-proof feature
F. Text paper most expensive, uncoated papers
Used for announcements, invitations, and greeting cards
G. Coated Used primarily in publications
H. Bristol Used to make index cards and tag paper
Strength is the most important feature
I. Kraft Coarse, unbleached, heavy paper
Paper bags, package wrapping, and corrugated boxes

PROPERTIES OF PAPER

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Paper contains many properties that are important considerations when determining how the paper will be
used.

● Weight
● Strength – tensile strength and tear strength
● Durability
● Thickness
● Finish of the paper
● Water absorb-ability
● Presence of watermark

WATERMARK
● This is a translucent distinctive designs of the manufacturer.

MATERIALS USED TO CREATE DOCUMENTS AND TYPEWRITERS

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IMPORTANT DETAILS ABOUT TYPEWRITER

Typeface - it is the printing surface of the type block. The most popular type used in business before are
PICA and ELITE.
PICA - it is composed of ten characters in an inch.
ELITE - it is composed of twelve characters in an inch.
Character - refers to letters, symbols, numerals, or any point of functions in typewriter.

What are the defects in typewriter which form part individual characteristics?

1. Horizontal Mal-alignment – the character defectively strikes to the right or left of its normal allotted
striking position.
2. Off its feet – heavier in one side or corner than over the remainder to its outline.
3. Rebound – character prints a double impress on with the lighter one slightly off act to the right or left.
4. Typeface Defects - refers to any peculiarity of typewriting caused by actual damage to the typeface metal.
Typeface refers to the printing surface of the type block.
5. Twisted Letters – characters become twisted so that they lean to the right or left of their correct slight
6. Vertical Mal-alignment – character printing above or below its proper portion
7. Clogged Typeface - otherwise referred to as dirty typeface characterized by unclean prints due to constant
use of the typewriter without cleaning the typeface, commonly occurring in enclosed letters and characters.
8. Actual Breakage - any peculiarity of typewriting caused by actual damage of the typeface metal resulting
to breakage in the line of letters.

The term defect is used to describe any maladjusted or abnormality in a typewriter which is reflected in its
work and which leads to its identification and individualization.

29 Forensic Questioned Document Examination

 Permanent Defect - refers to any identifying attribute of a typewriter which cannot be corrected by
simply cleaning the typeface or replacing the ribbon.
 Transitory Defect - refers to an identifying typewriter characteristic which can be eliminated by
replacing the ribbon or cleaning the machine.

COMPUTERS AND PRINTERS

Most of the documents can be viewed electronically. Today’s documents are typed on a computer, mistakes
can be corrected unlike in typewriters, and documents can be reproduced and printed using word processing
software possibly on one of several printers connected to the system.Printers are important in identification
of the source of a disputed document. There are certain properties of different printers which will separate a
printer to another printer.

TYPES OF PRINTER
1. Dot Matrix – It has series of small pins that press against the ribbon and stamp the paper. A microscopic
examination will show the round edges from the individual dots.
2. Ink Jet – It sprays the ink onto the paper configuring the letter designs in a way similar to the dot –matrix
designs. The sprayed ink may run slightly, blurring the rough edges of the dots.
3. Laser printer – A light source such as a laser exposes a photosensitive drum in a pattern of tiny dots to
form an image. Negatively charged toner clings to the positively charged, sensitized areas of the drum. The
toner is transferred to the paper that has been given to a positive charge. The toner is fused to the paper by
heat and pressure.

30 Forensic Questioned Document Examination