Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday called on the public to remain vigilant against corruption and abuse within the judiciary, warning that weak accountability among judges allows erring public officials to escape punishment.
In a radio interview on January 16, Pangilinan said corruption cannot be addressed by focusing on politicians alone, stressing that the justice system plays a critical role in ensuring that abuses of power are punished.
“Pag pulitiko, kapag nasa public works, kilalang kilala, pero yung mga nagaabswelto sa mga hudikatura, hindi natin alam. So, dapat talaga maging vigilant ang ating mga kababayan at ang media sa hudikatura. Maging mapagbantay,” he added.
The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights also called on the Supreme Court to dismiss corrupt and abusive judges to send a strong message against abuse of power.
His remarks came amid the Department of Justice’s announcement that former DPWH officials Roberto Bernardo and Henry Alcantara have become state witnesses in the probe into the multi-billion-peso flood control controversy.
Pangilinan earlier filed a bill seeking to create a congressional commission to review the state of the Philippine justice system.IMT
