THE House prosecution panel is exploring the use of Filipino and regional-language translations during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to make the proceedings easier for ordinary Filipinos to understand.
Lead prosecutor and House Committee on Justice chairperson Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said prosecutors plan to formally raise the proposal during the June 18 pre-trial conference before the Senate impeachment court.
“I wish to formalize as well on this upcoming pre-trial conference the possibility of us, the prosecutors, and even the defense, to use Filipino language when the same is possible,” Luistro said during a press briefing.
She acknowledged that some legal concepts may be difficult to translate but said the prosecution wants the proceedings to be accessible to the public because impeachment is a constitutional process that directly affects the Filipino people.
“It is our intention na lahat ng mangyayari during the impeachment trial should be understandable on the part of the ordinary Filipinos,” she said.
Luistro also proposed simultaneous translations in major regional languages so that more Filipinos can follow the proceedings regardless of where they live.
“Sana habang nagtra-trial, meron tayong translation to as many dialects as possible in order to make sure that the entire Philippine nation is on the same page,” she said.
“After all, this is a constitutional process. We want the entire nation to walk with us as we start, continue, and conclude the impeachment trial.”
House impeachment spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said discussions are already underway with the communications team on how to make the proceedings more accessible.
“I think that’s an ongoing discussion that we’re having with the comms team,” Alonto Adiong said.
“Kasi what we intend to provide to the public is the widest information, easy to understand for the public.”
Alonto Adiong noted that the trial is expected to involve technical legal arguments and terminology that many Filipinos may find difficult to follow.
“Once the impeachment trial begins, the audience will be hearing technical legal terms that are not necessarily quite understandable, easily to understand by the public,” he said.
The lawmaker said the goal is to help Filipinos understand the issues being discussed and the evidence being presented throughout the proceedings.
“Ang intensyon po talaga natin dito is mabigyan ng serbisyo ang ating mga kababayan na maintindihan nila ang pinag-uusapan sa impeachment trial,” Alonto Adiong said.
“Matagal na po ito pinag-usapan at deserve po nila malaman ang katotohanan.”
The Senate impeachment court is set to hold its pre-trial conference on June 18, with the trial proper scheduled to begin on July 6.
