The Supreme Court has approved the implementation of the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Rules in all court proceedings beginning December 15, ensuring equal access to justice for hearing-impaired Filipinos.
“The FSL Rules aims to ensure equal, relevant, and effective access to justice for d/Deaf Filipinos, enabling them to participate fully and fairly in court proceedings,” the Supreme Court stated.
The rules will apply not only to the Supreme Court but also to first- and second-level courts, including the Shari’ah Circuit Courts, Shari’ah District Courts, Shari’ah High Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and other judiciary bodies.
According to the Court, all FSL Interpreters or Deaf Relay Interpreters must be certified by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF). They are required to uphold standards such as accurate and complete interpretation, confidentiality, prohibition on offering legal advice, and equal respect for clients regardless of gender, social status, or personal views.
The Court also outlined grounds for removing an interpreter, including fraudulent interpretation, disclosure of confidential information, and failure to attend scheduled hearings.