Press Release
February 4, 2009

"STOP THE KILLINGS; STAMP OUT CORRUPTION IN THE SYSTEM." KIKO CALLS ON CHIEF JUSTICE PUNO TO CONVENE A SUMMIT ON THE RULE OF LAW
On vigilante justice

Independent senator and judicial reform advocate Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan pointed out the recent resurfacing of suspected salvage victims in different areas as another huge slap on the face of the country's justice system, and called on Chief Justice Reynato Puno to convene a summit on the rule of law.

"Some people are now taking the law into their own hands by becoming the prosecutor, judge, and executioner all in one," Kiko said. "It is an indication that our justice system isn't working."

"When cases rot in courts, justice is denied to those who seek to redress their grievances," Kiko pointed out. "The justice system has been plagued with scandal after scandal-from the corruption and bribery case in the Court of Appeals, to the DOJ-PDEA illegal drugs controversy, and now the spate of extrajudicial killings."

"Our system of justice is rotting and a stinking mess. We need to clean up the mess," Kiko declared emphatically.

A lawyer by profession before being elected into the Senate, Kiko called on the legal community to rise up and take the lead in calling for an all-out reform in the justice system.

"We need to look at forging a national consensus on reforming our system of justice," Kiko suggested. "A national summit on the rule of law must be undertaken, and we call on Chief Justice Puno to take the lead."

"Enough is enough. It's time to stop the killing and start cleaning up our justice system," Kiko exhorted.

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