Leonen calls for collective action, deep reforms to combat corruption

Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice (SAJ) Marvic M.V.F. Leonen has strongly urged collective action and broader institutional reforms to combat corruption in the country.

Leonen made the call as he conveyed Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo’s greetings and reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and justice.

In his remarks on judicial integrity, Leonen stressed that corruption in the Philippines is rooted in historical and structural conditions such as political dynasties, oligarchic influence, and regulatory capture—issues that weaken public services, deepen inequality, and erode public trust in government.

The senior associate justice delivered the speech during the 2025 Sikhay Laban Sa Korapsyon (SiLaK) forum held at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila in Pasig City, marking International Anti-Corruption Day. The forum carried the theme “Advancing Democratic Resilience and Development through Anti-Corruption Reforms.”

Leonen said corruption remains pervasive, noting: “Recent developments have further revealed the depth of fractures within our system. The ongoing public disclosures of misconduct suggest we might have a fundamental problem, possibly one rooted in the very ideological foundations of our government that still need to be critically examined.”

He added that growing public scrutiny reflects a more engaged citizenry and a shared recognition that corruption persists, with people becoming bolder in demanding accountability.

“In the Judiciary, we are doing our part,” Leonen said, citing reforms under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 (SPJI) aimed at improving efficiency, innovation, and access to justice.

These reforms include the Supreme Court’s approval of the 2025 Code of Judicial Conduct and Accountability; the integrity@judiciary.gov.ph reporting platform; digitalization initiatives such as eFiling; an expanded judicial E-Library; online access to the Philippine Reports; and the Philippine Judiciary Platform.

Leonen said specialized courts now handle corruption-related cases involving infrastructure projects, supported by training programs for judges and court personnel on anti-graft laws, cyber warrants, procurement rules, and digital forensic evidence.

The SC has also rolled out programs such as REAL Justice, which brings court proceedings to remote communities through video conferencing, while the CALESA Digital Initiative explores the use of artificial intelligence to streamline judicial processes.

He added that the creation of Regional Court Management Offices and the decentralization of administrative functions have improved efficiency, monitoring, and transparency across judicial regions.

Calling for genuine leadership, Leonen urged leaders who inspire communities and prioritize governance that advances social justice over personal titles or prestige.

He also challenged the public to demand higher standards of integrity from officials, judges, and justices, and to empower one another in the pursuit of accountability.

Emphasizing that corruption must have no place in government—including the judiciary—Leonen declared: “Addressing corruption should be a clear, visible, and urgent priority for all government workers. Corruption should no longer be hidden, shielded, or perpetuated by excuses. When we hide corruption out of fear or guilt, we ensure an unjust society. We contradict the role that we should all play as agents of social justice. It is our duty as those in positions of power to do our part and expand our influence, to stabilize the currently fragile institutions we hold… Remaining silent in the face of all of this, especially when we have the duty to be the voice of our people, makes us complicit.”