MANILA, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday opened the Senate's deliberations on the proposed 2026 Judiciary budget, stressing the need to modernize courts, expand legal aid, and ensure faster case resolution across the justice system.

Pangilinan, vice chair of Finance Subcommittee J, sponsored the proposed PHP67.77-billion allocation, which covers the Supreme Court and lower courts, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, and Court of Tax Appeals.

Pangilinan said the allocation must directly address long-standing issues such as case backlogs, slow case disposition, and lack of personnel.

"Ang layunin natin ay siguraduhin na sapat ang pondong ibibigay pero tiyaking may malinaw na resulta at epekto ...