𝗜𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥: 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝘅 𝗣𝗛 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is stepping into the ring with a new proposal aimed at tackling one of the country’s toughest, most deep-rooted challenges: the weak and sluggish Philippine justice system. Speaking on ANC’s Headstart, Pangilinan announced plans to file a bill establishing a Judiciary Congressional Commission on the State of the Philippine Justice System — a full-scale review body modeled after EDCOM II, but this time focused on courts, conviction rates, and accountability.

The senator said the need is urgent. With the Philippines posting only a 47% conviction rate, far behind Japan’s 90% and Hong Kong’s 80%+, public confidence in justice has been steadily eroding. He highlighted grim realities: 5,000 unserved warrants in the Sandiganbayan, cases unresolved for up to 40 years, and an average case life cycle of four years—far too slow to deter wrongdoing. According to Pangilinan, these delays have unintentionally fueled impunity, especially for corrupt public officials who often escape or postpone accountability.

Pangilinan underscored that swift and certain punishment—not merely new laws—is the backbone of restoring trust in the system. As chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, he intends to sponsor the measure himself. For him, reforming the judiciary is not just about efficiency; it’s about safeguarding democracy, strengthening institutions, and ensuring that the laws the public is expected to follow are actually enforced.

With the judiciary budget up for debate this week, Pangilinan’s push serves as both a call to action and a reminder: without credible justice, respect for the rule of law becomes optional. The commission, he says, is the legislative branch’s concrete step toward a justice system that punishes swiftly, fairly, and consistently—finally giving Filipinos a fighting chance against impunity.

Image from Senate of the Philippines