Senator Kiko Pangilinan has urged Filipinos to closely monitor court judges, warning that corruption persists when judicial rulings that clear powerful figures escape public scrutiny.
Pangilinan said public anger is often directed at politicians and government officials accused of graft, while the judges who decide their cases remain largely unnoticed. He stressed that acquittals in plunder and corruption cases are the result of judicial action, not mere procedural outcomes.
“We are all angry at corrupt politicians and public works officials. But when those charged with plunder were acquitted in the past, we didn’t seem to direct our anger at the justices,” Pangilinan said. “The buck stops with the judge. We must watch them.”
The senator pointed out that while accused officials become household names, the judges who issue controversial rulings are rarely identified or examined by the public. He said this imbalance weakens accountability and allows questionable decisions to fade without consequence.
Pangilinan warned that corruption cannot be fully addressed if oversight stops at investigators and prosecutors. He said the justice system itself must be subject to public vigilance, especially in cases involving high-ranking officials and large public funds.
He also cited previous acknowledgments by Ombudsman Boying Remulla that corruption exists within the judiciary, saying this reinforces the need for systemic reform rather than isolated enforcement actions.
Pangilinan called on the Supreme Court to take firm and visible action against judges found to be corrupt or abusive, including removal from service when warranted. He said disciplinary measures must be clear and decisive to restore trust in the courts.
The senator added that he has filed a proposal to create a congressional commission that would review the state of the Philippine justice system, including why high-profile corruption cases are often dismissed or delayed.
He said sustained transparency and public attention on court rulings are essential to ensuring accountability across all branches of government.
