RTC asked to hire sign language interpreters

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board approved the resolution requesting the executive judge of the Regional Trial Court of the 7th Judicial Region to encourage all RTCs and Municipal Trial Courts in Cebu to hire sign language interpreters.

In a resolution authored by Arleigh Sitoy, the Philippine Deaf Resources Center claimed that there are many unresolved cases of persons with hearing disabilities due to the absence of interpreters during the proceedings.

Sitoy cited data that one out of three women with hearing disabilities is a victim of rape while 65 to 70 percent of deaf children are victims of molestation.

Sitoy also said Supreme Court Memorandum Order No. 59-2004 authorized the court administrator to act on and grant the requests of trial court judges to hire the service of sign language interpreters during proceedings.

Republic Act 7277 otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability imposes upon the state as its duty to “advocate for and encourage respect for persons with disability and exert all efforts to remove all social, cultural, economic, environmental and attitudinal barriers that are prejudicial to persons with disability.”

It is also a declared policy of the state that all persons shall be given equal opportunity, due process and speedy dispositions of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative bodies.

“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu deems it appropriate and necessary to request the executive judge to encourage all RTC and MTC judges in the Cebu province to comply the matter,” Sitoy said.

Judge Meinrado Paredes, former executive judge of the 7th Judicial Region, said the hiring of sign language interpreters is really important.

During arraignment, if either complainant or accused is hearing impaired, Paredes said a case is considered null and void if there are no sign language interpreters.

However, the judge said such cases are rare especially insofar as his branch court is concerned. He said he has not yet encountered a case so far that needs sign language interpreters. – (FREEMAN)