MANILA – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has returned as an ex-officio member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), 17 years after first holding the post during his initial term in the Senate.

Now on his fourth term, Pangilinan said he is committed to advancing transparency, modernization, and reforms in the judiciary as the official Senate representative to the JBC.

During his first stint from 2001 to 2008, Pangilinan authored Republic Act 9227 or the Judiciary Modernization and Compensation Act, which raised the salaries and benefits of judges, and pushed for measures to safeguard judicial independence. He also championed Republic Act 10071 or the Prosecution Service Act, which created the National Prosecution Service and improved allowances and benefits for prosecutors and DOJ staff.

He also initiated the creation of the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELACC), a tripartite body of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, which led to a ₱3-billion increase in the judiciary’s budget in 2008 for court computerization and the hiring of more judges.

Pangilinan has also repeatedly called on the JBC to uphold constitutional processes and resist unconstitutional judicial appointments.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the senator said he intends to pursue key reforms that will improve judicial efficiency, strengthen independence, and address concerns on human rights and equal access to justice.

Among his pending measures is Senate Bill No. 733, which seeks to provide hazard pay to public prosecutors handling cases involving national security and crimes committed by public officials.