(Photo courtesy of Senate PRIB)
Senator Francis Pangilinan has called on newly appointed Chief Justice Rodil Zalameda to prioritize reducing the country’s growing court backlog, filling judicial vacancies, and strengthening measures against corruption to restore public trust in the justice system.
In a statement Friday, Pangilinan emphasized the need for concrete and measurable reforms to speed up case resolution, reduce the workload of judges, and make justice more accessible to ordinary Filipinos.
“Hamon kay Chief Justice Rodil Zalameda na manguna sa pagreporma ng sistema ng katarungan ng Pilipinas. Hamon na ibalik ang tiwala ng mamamayan sa hudikatura,” said Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
The senator urged the new chief justice to establish clear targets for reducing pending cases, create additional courts in underserved and heavily congested areas, and address the shortage of judges nationwide.
Pangilinan cited the Philippines’ ranking of 97th out of 143 countries and jurisdictions in the 2026 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, underscoring the need for sustained improvements in the country’s justice system.
The Philippines also ranked 106th in civil justice and 116th in criminal justice, highlighting persistent challenges in the administration and delivery of justice.
Stronger safeguards against corruption
Beyond addressing court congestion, Pangilinan stressed the importance of strengthening judicial integrity through transparent appointments, merit-based promotions, effective institutional oversight, and disciplinary mechanisms.
“Hindi maaaring makipagkompromiso pagdating sa integridad ng hudikatura,” he said.
The senator maintained that reforms should produce tangible improvements in how ordinary Filipinos experience the justice system, whether their cases involve traffic violations, online fraud, corruption, or serious criminal offenses.
He emphasized that restoring confidence in the judiciary requires not only faster proceedings but also greater accountability and fairness in the handling of cases.
Push for stronger interbranch coordination
Pangilinan also renewed his proposal to convene the Judiciary Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELACC) to improve coordination among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
He said the council could provide a platform for addressing funding shortages, judicial vacancies, and other institutional challenges affecting the delivery of justice.
Through closer coordination, Pangilinan hopes the government can identify priority reforms and allocate sufficient resources to improve court operations nationwide.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Zalameda as the country’s new chief justice on Thursday, succeeding Alexander Gesmundo, who retired upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Zalameda, who joined the Supreme Court in 2019, previously served as a prosecutor and justice of the Court of Appeals.
Pangilinan said the new chief justice’s leadership would be measured by the judiciary’s ability to deliver faster, fairer, and more accessible justice while strengthening public confidence in the country’s legal institutions.
