Adequate funding for the Judiciary is essential to ensuring swift and accurate justice in the Philippines, especially amid the country’s largest corruption scandal.
This was emphasized by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano after the deliberation of the 2026 Judiciary budget under the Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee J, held concurrently with the Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into anomalous flood control projects on September 23, 2025.
“We have to be radical with the 2026 national budget. We have to hold people accountable. We have to fix our system. Kailangan mabawi y’ung pera… And we believe lawyers will have a very, very big role to play in the coming reform and renewal of our country,” the senator said.
The proposed 2026 Judiciary budget stands at P105.76 billion, with an additional P28.31 billion requested for new positions, infrastructure, ICT upgrades, and land acquisition for courts in key cities.
Cayetano, who previously served on the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and briefly chaired the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said that proper and additional funding would empower the Judiciary to dispense justice, keep pace with the digital age, and act with foresight and fairness – all while receiving greater security.
“Iba na y’ung age ngayon na instant ang news. Most of you now naka-cellphone na rather than those na naka-big cameras. Some of you, naka-post o naka-live na agad. So, kailangan up-to-date sa mga bagong sistema na ganyan,” the Minority Leader, who’s also a lawyer, said.
In pushing for employment of more security marshals to better protect the country’s judges, justices, and other court officials, the senator said, “As we fight crime, [kailangan] protektahan din talaga y’ung judge at prosecutor kasi kahit ano’ng sabihin natin, we have places in the country na [delikado sila].”
He underscored the Judiciary’s vital role in rebuilding public trust in government institutions.
“Corruption is a big issue… Sa tulong nila, pwedeng bumalik ang tiwala ng tao sa public officials,” he added.
