“Can we fix the whole Philippines?”
It’s possible, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano told the country’s judges on Thursday, if those in the justice system help shape a culture of integrity.
Speaking before the 25th Convention of the Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines (MetCJAP) on September 18, Cayetano said the Philippines can break free from recurring scams if the judiciary becomes an agent of “renewal.”
“When we thought the biggest scam was Napoles, suddenly we have what we’re dealing with now,” he said, referring to the alleged ghost flood-control projects.
“We have to hold people accountable. We have to fix our system. Kailangan mabawi y’ung pera,” he added.
The lawyer-senator, however, continued by stressing that punishing erring officials should not be the end.
“Environment matters,” he said. “If we’re just going to go after some contractors and a few politicians, kasuhan sila, then bahala na si Batman, hindi magbabago.”
“Whatever sphere of authority as judges you have, let us start changing the political, economic, and social culture sa Pilipinas na stealing, cheating, and lying is OK,” he urged the convention participants.
He pointed to Singapore as an example of how integrity can be woven into daily life, from banning cheating in classrooms to investigating trains that arrive just three minutes late.
“Y’ung train nila, ma-late lang ng three minutes, may investigation na y’ung Department of Transportation. Integrity is a core value [in Singapore],” Cayetano said.
The MetCJAP convention highlighted the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, which seeks to speed up access to and delivery of justice by modernizing the justice system.
Cayetano, with over three decades in public service spent pushing anti-corruption reforms, ended on a hopeful note.
“We [seem to] start accepting na never tayo magiging parang Singapore, na ang core value ay integrity. Well, I’m here today to tell you, I don’t believe in that,” he said.
“Lawyers will have a very, very big role to play in the coming reform and renewal of our country,” he added.
