The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday announced its approval of the rules on Filipino sign language (FSL) to ensure access to justice for the d/Deaf.
The rules were drafted by the Technical Working Group headed by SC Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao as chairperson and Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez as vice chairperson.
The FSL rules take effect on December 15. It is a landmark measure in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 11106 or the Filipino Sign Language Act.
The law allows full participation of d/Deaf individuals in court proceedings.
The FSL rules are applicable at any litigation stage with the right to choose their preferred mode of communication.
It defines “deaf” as Filipinos with hearing loss who may or may not use sign language while “Deaf” are those who use FSL and collectively identify as a community.
Courts must appoint accredited FSL Interpreters who will translate spoken language into FSL and Deaf Relay Interpreters, who relay communication between linguistically isolated deaf persons and hearing non-signers.
The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) must provide all courts with an updated list of accredited interpreters every year.
Meanwhile, to ensure impartiality, the rules prohibit the appointment of interpreters who have conflicts of interest, such as relationship, financial, or professional ties to the d/Deaf party or witness.
In cases of interpreting errors or ambiguities, the court shall consult with counsel and interpreters to assess if the error is substantial, in which case, the court will hold a hearing to determine the correct interpretation.
