The judiciary was urged to expedite the resolution of cases, with delays in justice said to continue emboldening abuses amid what a senator described as an “unprecedented trillion pesos scandal.”
During the Senate’s hearing on the judiciary’s proposed 2026 budget, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chair of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, emphasized the need to address delays in prosecutions and strengthen accountability within the justice system.
“Will we be able to punish the corrupt? Is the justice system capable of rendering justice and accountability?” Pangilinan asked, noting that the country continues to reel from widespread corruption.
He also cited the Sandiganbayan’s report showing a 47 percent conviction rate, warning that pending corruption cases, including alleged flood control anomalies, could take years to resolve.
“The question is, and among the minds of our people, ‘Wala naman makukulong dyan. Puro imbestigasyon lang. Tulad nung mga nakaraang eskandalo, wala naman nakukulong. O kaya nakulong na, pinakakawalan din naman,’” Pangilinan added.
For his part, Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian stressed the importance of managing heavy caseloads efficiently, noting that each judge currently handles an average of 291 cases.
Gatchalian, chair of the Committee on Finance, called on the judiciary to submit a roadmap that would improve the speed and quality of case disposition.
“The Committee on Finance wants to make sure that the courts and the different levels of the judiciary are well equipped with the necessary budget and tools that will enable them to dispense cases as soon as possible so we can render justice,” Gatchalian said.
“That’s the only way to restore our people’s trust and confidence in the government,” he added.
Both senators underscored that modernizing and reforming the judiciary is vital in meeting public demands for accountability.
“There is a wave today crying out for reform and anti-corruption, and therefore, the judiciary should ride that wave,” Pangilinan added.
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