Press Release
January 29, 2008

KIKO: SORRY STATE OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST END

The recent shooting incident at a Manila court reflects the alarming state of peace and order in the country wherein even areas that are supposed to be secure are not safe anymore, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today said.

This shooting incident is outrageous and condemnable. Over a hundred killed in election related violence, over a hundred killed in extrajudicial killings, over 50 mediamen killed thus far, unless we do something now and do something serious we will reach a point of no return and slide into anarchy and chaos. Kiko said. Kiko furthers that this latest incident of violence within court premises is downright bizarre and is a mockery of our justice system. Kiko proposes that the recently established Judicial, Executive and Legislative Advisory Council (JELAC) be immediately convened to address safety within court premises, among other concerns. We call on the immediate convening of JELAC to find out how we can help modernize the judiciary. This is a brazen disregard for the rule of law. We must act and not be deterred. We must produce results immediately. Kiko asserts.

The JELAC™ mandate is to identify problems and issues, to formulate solutions and implement the same, includes matters concerning the budget of judiciary, infrastructure requirements, creation of positions, filling of vacancies, career development, compensation and security of judicial officials. The fact that the murder case remained pending for 10 years now is a major factor in the lack of respect for the rule of law in this country. Had the case been decided 5 years ago whether an acquittal or a conviction, today™ murder could very well have been avoided. We must squarely face the question of the terrible delay in the resolution of cases in the country if we are to truly restore the people™ faith and respect for the rule of law. Until such time we will have more of the same. In the same way we cannot have politics as usual in the country so too must we say that it cannot be justice as usual in the country. Too many killings, too many unresolved crimes and so little swift resolution of cases. This sorry state of our system of justice must end. Kiko ended.

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