KIKO BACKS CHIEF JUSTICE PUNO'S CALL FOR JUDICIARY
BUDGET INCREASE

Echoing Chief Justice Reynato Puno's statement that more funds need to be channeled to the Judiciary in order to have a faster and secure justice system, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today again pushed for the creation of an ad hoc Joint Judiciary Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELACC) "to thresh out the mechanics of systematically and strategically modernizing the Judiciary."

The JELACC, proposed by Kiko at the start of his second term in the Senate, is envisioned to put in track the much needed legislative, executive and judicial muscle necessary to deliver justice the fastest manner possible.

Speaking before the UNESCO briefing last Monday, Chief Justice Puno revealed that the Supreme Court's appeal for an additional P4 billion budget from Congress was denied. Only P10.34 billion, or .8 percent of the national budget, is being allotted by Congress for the High Court in the 2008 allocations. At .84 percent of the national budget, the said allotment is the lowest in recent years. The Supreme Court budget was at .87 percent in 2007, and was over one percent in previous years.

"JELACC will be instrumental in empowering the arm of justice, ensuring the respect for the rule of law and curbing corruption, bribery political killings and enforced disappearances, and apathy in and outside government. I already sat down with the Chief Justice in August regarding this, and both the leaderships of the Senate and the House of Representatives have already expressed their support for this move. The President likewise approved this council in principle when I brought it up during the LEDAC, and we thus see no reason why we cannot execute this the soonest time possible," Kiko explained.

The JELACC will be composed of the President or her representative, the Chief Justice or his representative, the Speaker and the Senate President or their representatives, and other envoys of the Judiciary, Executive and the Legislative branch. The council aims to explore the necessary budgetary support for filling the vacancy in our courts, the creation of more courts, and the promotion of a strategic response to strengthen the rule of law.

"By directing more funding and attention to the cause of the judiciary, we can realistically increase the conviction rates of our courts. Only when we punish more and punish swiftly will there be genuine respect for the rule of law. Today the battle cry of would- be criminals and syndicates is 'we can get away with it anyway' and hence are emboldened to transgress the law at will. When only 2 or 3 out of ten cases end up in conviction then many are able to go scot- free while only a few are punished. We must find a way to reduce the average case life from 6 years to say 2 to 3 years in the next 5 to 7 years. Ensuring the swift disposition of cases will strike fear in the hearts of would be criminals that in fact cases are resolved and the guilty punished," Kiko ended.