PNoy tells Abad, Congress to help judiciary vs corruption

MANILA, Philippines - After publicly attacking the Supreme Court for striking down the Disbursement Acceleration Program, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday asked the budget chief and Congress leaders to help the judiciary fight corruption.

In his speech at the Second State Conference on the United Nations Convention against Corruption, Aquino told Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to immediately address the judiciary's financial needs to carry out its reforms.

"Butch, I hope you took note of budgetary requirements of the Judiciary that should be attended to posthaste," Aquino told Abad.

"And since the approving authority is present also, perhaps we can lobby them for the speedy inclusion of what is necessary to help the Judiciary in our common fight against corruption amongst others, making sure we are compliant with all the directives," he added.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senate President Franklin Drilon, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and other members of the legislature were present at the event.

In her speech, Sereno said the judiciary does not have a less significant role in the battle against corruption.

"Corruption, like poverty, is a multi-headed monseter that we really need to definitely slay once and for all for our country's progress," Sereno said.

The top magistrate said the judiciary is serious in weeding out its corrupt members.

"We have engaged in serious housecleaning, a painful but necessary process. Part of this process involves the conduct of investigations, some of which we have done on our own initiative," Sereno said.

She cited the case of former Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong who was had been dismissed over links with alleged pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.