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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SC to issue Rules on Filipino Sign Language Interpreting to help deaf, hearing-impaired court litigants

SC to issue Rules on Filipino Sign Language Interpreting to help deaf, hearing-impaired court litigants

Published Jul 30, 2025 12:13 pm
The Supreme Court (SC) will soon come out with its Rules on Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Interpreting in the Judiciary to help deaf or hearing-impaired court litigants.
Once issued, the SC said the rules will require the presence of qualified FSL interpreters in court proceedings involving d/Deaf individuals to ensure that they can communicate clearly with judges, lawyers, witnesses, and other court users, and be fully understood and heard.
The FSL rules will implement Republic Act No. 11106, the Filipino Sign Language Act, which mandates the use of FSL in all court proceedings involving d/Deaf persons, it also said.
The term “deaf” refers to individuals with hearing loss, regardless of their knowledge or use of sign language, while “Deaf” refers specifically to members of a linguistic and cultural community that primarily uses FSL, it added.
In a press briefer, the SC’s Office of the Spokesperson said the High Court has finalized the draft of the rules during a two-day write shop held recently in Pasay City.
The SC’s Technical Working Group (TWG) on the FSL rules is headed by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao as chairperson with Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez as vice chairperson.
It said the series of meetings and consultations ensured that the draft rules are clear, responsive, and aligned with the judiciary’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
FSL interpreters were present throughout the write shop, and d/Deaf individuals -- who also served as TWG members -- actively participated in the discussions, it also said.
Once approved by the SC as a full court, the FSL rules will be disseminated to all courts nationwide through visits and dialogues with judges and court officials and personnel.
Justice Dimaampao said the goals of the FSL rules are to ensure qualified sign language interpreters are available in court; support effective communication between d/Deaf individuals and court personnel, lawyers, and witnesses; and remove barriers that prevent d/Deaf individuals from fully understanding and participating in judicial proceedings.
The other TWG members present during the write shop were Assistant Court Administrator Lilian C. Barribal-Co; Court of Appeals Associate Justice Geraldine C. Fiel-Macaraig; Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Juliet M. Manalo-San Gaspar; Judge Madonna C. Echiverri, Branch 81, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City; Judge Remiebel U. Mondia, Branch 110, RTC, Pasay City, who is also an FSL Interpreter; Judge Rasad S. Laguindab, Shari’ah District Court, Marawi City.
The other members are Judge Vladimir Berla S. Daral, Branch 165, Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), Pasay City; and Judge Alberto O. Romoros, Shari’ah Circuit Court, Jolo. They were joined by Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino Commissioner Benjamin Mendillo, Jr.; FSL Specialist Carolyn Dagani; Mariah Agbay, Philippine Federation of the Deaf President; Shirley Pinky Earnhart, Executive Director of the Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; and representatives from the Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters, Catherine Joy Villareal and Bernadette Infanta.
The consultants are Dr. Liza Martinez, convenor of the FSL National Network and lawyer Glenda Litong, law reform specialist from the University of the Philippines Institute of Human Rights.
The observers were Court of Appeals Justice Lorna Francisca Catris-Chua Cheng and Judge Kirby G. Javier, Branch 166, MeTC, Pasay City. Lawyers Ray Paolo J. Santiago and Rommel Alim Abitria, and Maricel Aguilar and Yna Calindas of the Fostering Advancement of Inclusive and Rights-Based Justice Program (FAIR Justice).
The SC said the adoption of the rules and the conduct of the write shop were supported by the Australian government through the FAIR Justice Program, which works to improve access to justice for vulnerable groups.
It added that the issuance of the rules is part of its five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, which promotes inclusivity, transparency, and accountability in the justice system.
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