Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson on Wednesday warned that underfunding the judiciary’s newly reorganized anti-corruption unit, the Judicial Integrity Office (JIO), would only let corruption persist.
Speaking during debates on the judiciary’s proposed 2026 budget, Lacson highlighted the importance of the JIO in promoting integrity and addressing misconduct within the courts.
He called for an initial ₱250 million allocation, stressing: “While the consciousness is high in addressing corruption, maybe this is the proper time to assist the Supreme Court and the Judiciary to organize immediately the JIO.”
The senator criticized the budget cuts, noting the judiciary requested ₱90.7 billion for 2026 but only ₱67.66 billion made it into the National Expenditure Program.
Lacson added: “I’m wondering, they asked for ₱90 billion, tapos bibigyan ng ₱67 billion at sinasabi kulang. But as we know ang ibang executive department (agencies), parang wallowing in allocations.”
He also expressed hope that the recently enacted Judicial Autonomy Act (RA 12233) would allow the judiciary to prepare and submit its own budget starting in 2027.
Lacson tied his push for proper funding to the broader fight against corruption, pointing to past anomalies involving billions in misallocated funds.