MANILA (August 24) — In an effort to democratize access to a legal system that is still “foreign and distant” to Filipinos who do not speak English well, Rep. Chel Diokno of the Akbayan Partylist has introduced a measure mandating that all laws containing penal elements be translated into Filipino, Bisaya, and Ilocano.
The legislation, known as the “Batas sa Sariling Wika Act” or House Bill 3863, would amend the Revised Administrative Code of 1987 to require translations into the three languages, covering the four main ethnolinguistic groups in the country, namely Tagalog (26%), Bisaya (14.3%), Ilocano (8%), and Cebuano (8%).
“The 1987 Constitution already recognizes English and Filipino as official languages, declares Filipino as the national language, and permits the use of regional languages as auxiliary official languages,” Diokno pointed out.
However, Diokno stated in the bill’s explanatory note that most citizens continue to be unable to access Philippine laws.
“Sa kabila nito, nananatiling banyaga at malayo sa karaniwang mamamayan ang ating mga batas. Dahil dito, hindi nakakamit ng maraming Pilipino ang katarungan mula sa ating sistemang panligal,” Diokno said in the bill’s explanatory note.
(Despite this, our laws remain foreign and distant from the ordinary citizen. Because of this, many Filipinos do not obtain justice from our legal system.)
Recognizing that translating thousands of statutes might be a major endeavor, the long-time human rights lawyer stated in the explanatory to House Bill 3863 that the effort must “start somewhere.”
“How can we expect ordinary citizens to follow the law if it is written in a language they do not understand?”” Diokno stated about the measure filed on Wednesday, August 20.
“A worker in Mindanao shouldn’t need a lawyer or translator to understand the Labor Code; a mother in Ilocos should be able to read the Anti-VAWC law in her native tongue,” the representative said.
Translations by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
The plan requires that new laws with penal aspects be translated within 90 days of their passage.
Meanwhile, current penal legislation, such as the Revised Penal Code, Labor Code, Anti-VAWC Act, RA 7610, the Safe Spaces Act, and the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, must be translated into the three languages within five years.
The bill also supports translations into other Philippine languages, especially those of indigenous peoples.
The Presidential Communications Office will publish the translated texts online and in the Official Gazette, with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) acting as the primary translating authority.
