Casiño bats for funding for sign language interpreters in courts

Saying Congress should protect the right of Deaf people to attain justice, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño is asking Congress to allocate at least P2,080,000 to fund sign language interpreters in the country's courts.


"This seems like a small amount but will do wonders in ensuring that our deaf citizens will have more access to justice. It will give meaning to the adage that those who have less in life should have more in law," said Casiño.

In yesterday's hearing of the Judiciary, Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez admitted that despite an SC memo and circular that provides for sign language interpreters in courts, their proposed 2012 budget does not have a specific allocation for said item and related expenses. Instead, such expenses are charged to the savings in the appropriations of the lower courts.

Casiño said because of this, expenses for sign language interpreters have to compete with other expenses charged to savings, like maintenance, repair and improvement of facilities as well as adjustments in pension payments which are often given priority.

"It is urgent that we have specific appropriations for sign language interpreters. Studies indicate that one out of three deaf women are victims of rape and a lot of deaf children are being molested because they find it difficult to complain and seek help. They are victimized twice over in our courts, where justice becomes elusive because our courts do not have the facility to make them participate meaningfully," said Casiño.

According to the Philippine Deaf Resource Center, of the 200 or so cases requiring sign language interpreters in 2010, only a handful were able to employ such services and less were actually paid for by the courts.

Casiño recounted an experience of a deaf woman in Cagayan de Oro whose parents were killed in a car crash. The case she filed against the driver of the truck that killed her parents dragged because of the lack of a sign language interpreter. She found it difficult to keep track of the court proceedings and, out of frustration, eventually gave up her case.

Casiño is principal author of House Bill 4631 titled "An act providing for interpreters in all judicial, quasi-judicial, investigative proceedings and public hearings involving deaf individuals" which is pending with the Committee on Justice.