BETWEEN EVIDENCE AND ETHICS: THE CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER'S DILEMMA IN COURT PRESENTATION

This study examined the dilemmas faced by crime scene photographers in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay in capturing and presenting photographic evidence for court. Using a descriptive-phenomenological research design and guided by the framework of Bacroya and Aranjuez (2025), ten crime scene photographers were purposively selected as participants. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically, producing ten central themes: chain of custody and documentation challenges, technical limitations, admissibility and authentication concerns, ethical dilemmas in graphic presentation, resource constraints and training gaps, courtroom interpretation and misrepresentation, balancing accuracy and sensitivity, evolving technology implications, interagency collaboration, and provincial context-specific constraints. Findings revealed that while participants adopt strategies such as preserving RAW files, anonymizing sensitive details, and adding orientation shots, they remain hindered by limited equipment, training gaps, and procedural inconsistencies that weaken evidentiary reliability. Moreover, ethical tensions surfaced in balancing accuracy with dignity, particularly in presenting graphic evidence. The study concludes that reforms, such as standardized custody protocols, improved forensic training, and interagency collaboration—are needed to strengthen local forensic practice. By addressing these gaps, the research contributes to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16, reinforcing justice through ethical and reliable photographic evidence. Keywords: Crime Scene Photography; Chain of Custody; Admissibility; Ethical Dilemmas; Forensic Evidence; SDG 16.