MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Pangilinan called for increased judiciary funding, faster court proceedings, stronger prosecution of corruption cases, and tougher measures against judicial corruption as part of a four-point reform agenda following the Philippines' 97th-place ranking in the 2026 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index.
Pangilinan said the country's ranking highlights the need for “massive, painstaking, and consistent reform” to address persistent problems in law enforcement and the administration of justice, which directly affect the daily lives and livelihoods of ordinary Filipinos.
“We need reform that ordinary Filipinos experience, not the impunity we see in the enforcement of laws and the disposition of cases—from traffic to online scams to corruption,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
“To improve the Philippine justice system is to improve Filipino lives and livelihoods," he added.
The senator said an effective justice system is essential to protecting citizens' rights, holding offenders accountable, resolving disputes fairly, and creating an environment where businesses and communities can thrive.
He cited the WJP's key rule-of-law indicators, which include accountable government, freedom from corruption, transparency, protection of fundamental rights, public safety, fair enforcement of laws, and effective civil and criminal justice systems.
Pangilinan said that addressing these challenges requires leadership from government, with the business sector, academe, civil society, and basic sectors working together to pursue long-term institutional reforms.
The senator called for adequate and sustained funding for the judiciary, emphasizing that its budget must translate into measurable improvements in the delivery of justice.
He proposed setting clear and measurable targets for the next three years to shorten case resolution times, reduce workloads in congested courts, establish and operationalize additional courts where necessary, and bring judicial vacancies down from approximately 20 percent to single digits.
Pangilinan said reducing court congestion would require more than appointing additional judges. The effort must also include adequate court personnel, legal aid services, digital systems, and fully functioning courthouses.
Also, Pangilinan called for stronger investigations, more capable prosecution, and timely trials to improve conviction rates, particularly in corruption cases.
“Justice means holding the guilty accountable while protecting the innocent. Improve conviction rates, especially of corruption cases, through stronger investigations, capable prosecution, and timely trials. Justice means due process is followed, not sacrificed," he said.
Pangilinan also called for the convening of the Judiciary Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council to coordinate sustained funding commitments and institutional reforms while safeguarding judicial independence.
