MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday said the judiciary must do more to convict corrupt public officials, warning that acquittals and prolonged trials have weakened public trust in the justice system.

In an interview on ANC’s Headstart, Pangilinan stressed the need for faster trials and higher conviction rates in plunder and corruption cases, particularly in the Sandiganbayan.

“Hindi papayag ang taong bayan sa whitewash, hindi papayag sa selective justice, hindi papayag sa cover-up,” Pangilinan said, adding that the newly created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) must fast-track its probe into anomalous flood control projects.

The senator, who joined the “Trillion Peso March” anti-corruption protest on Sunday, pointed out that past cases against high-ranking officials have often ended in acquittals or dismissals.

“So, we want to know from the judiciary: how fast are you convicting corrupt officials in the Sandiganbayan? And not just how fast, how many are you convicting?” he said.

Pangilinan, a member of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating alleged anomalies in public works projects, admitted the scandal has cast a shadow over Congress but said accountability must prevail.

“Masakit itong mga nangyayari sa ating mga kasamahan… But much as we would like to have it differently, it is what it is and we will have to do what we have to do,” he said.