Pangilinan calls for joint congressional panel to tackle justice reforms

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Sunday called for the immediate creation of a Joint Congressional Commission on Justice Reform amid allegations of corruption and the flood control scandal hounding the government.

In a statement, Pangilinan said the proposal for a joint congressional panel that will tackle possible reforms to the justice system is contained in his Senate Bill 1547.

“Marami na ang nasawi, at marami na ang nawalan ng tahanan at kabuhayan – bunga ng bilyon-bilyong nawaldas at ng isang bulok na sistemang matagal nang pinahina ng katiwalian at pagwawalang-bahala sa batas at pananagutan,” he said.

(Many have died, and many have lost their homes and livelihoods – due to billions wasted and a rotten system long weakened by corruption and disregard for the law and accountability.)

He said this continue to manifest in compounded shortcomings in public service, the management of public funds, provision of basic needs, and the failure of institutions to fulfill their duty to protect citizens’ lives and welfare.

“Atat na atat na ang taumbayan para sa katarungan. Gusto nilang makulong mga may sala, hindi malaya at nagpapakasasa sa kinurakot,” Pangilinan said.

(The people are desperate for justice. They want the guilty to be jailed, not to be free while they enjoy the fruits of their corruption.”)

Sa ating panukalang pagbuo ng joint commission, uugatin natin ang mga dahilan kung bakit sukdulan na ang pagkabigo ng sistema ng hustisya sa bansa, lalo na para sa pinapasweldo ng taumbayan para pangalagaan ang kanilang kapakanan. Lalo na para sa mga sumumpang magsisilbi sa bayan, hindi busugin ang sariling bulsa,” he added.

(With our proposal to create a joint commission, we will get to the root causes of why the country’s justice system has failed, especially for those being paid by the people to look after their welfare. Especially for those who swore to serve the country, not to fill their own pockets.)

Pangilinan added that the joint congressional panel will introduce legislative reforms to fix the justice system for a nation that is fed up of corruption and lack of justice. — JMA, GMA Integrated News