WHEN it comes to words, as in all endeavors, the simpler the better.
Trying the country’s Chief Justice is a worrisome undertaking. An issue of national scale, its developments should be able to employ the Filipino’s stance, as constituents, on matters which concern them.
Unraveling the truth is never an easy undertaking -- what more when it’s done in a gobbledygook manner?
Earlier this week, Bishop Jose Oliveros of Bulacan along with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), proposed to conduct the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in Tagalog.
Oliveros encouraged both camps to use Filipino in the course of the trial at the Senate, saying that it is not the technicalities that are important, but the understanding of truth, when it comes to the issue.
“There are many technical words in law that have no direct Filipino translation so the lawyers might find difficulty using Filipino. But it is up to the senator-judges to act on this suggestion.”
His proposal drew support from the senator-judges, including Pampanga Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid, who once suggested the use of Filipino language in the Senate plenary session.
The senator, who is a high school graduate, said it would be more interesting for the people to get involved in the impeachment trial if it will be done in the national language.
Lapid also emphasized that clarity is important, in order for ordinary citizens to be able to comprehend the discussions being made in the impeachment trial.
Other senator-judges who supported the proposal are Senators Manny Villar, Vicente Sotto III, Gregorio Honasan and recently elected International Criminal Court (ICC) judge Miriam Defensor- Santiago.
Expecting smoother and quicker proceedings, the senator judges also hope to finish the presentation of evidences from both camps in the eight articles of impeachment within a month’s time.
Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte, however said the use of Filipino in the impeachment trial may prolong the proceedings at the Senate.
“As a lawyer, I can see the difficulty in the translation of some technical words used in the trial practice. Instead of having swift debates, the discussions might slow down,” Valte said.
Unless you’re on the top echelon of society, comprehending proceedings done entirely in English will be rigorous. The inability of Filipinos to keep up with legal jargon is a different case; it’s the educational system’s problem.
For a non-anglophone Pinoy, listening to dignified personalities harangue on their arguments is a challenge. This doesn’t mean completely steering clear of technical and legal terms, acronyms and abbreviations. But speaking in Filipino every so often may help.
Without better understanding, Filipinos who follow the impeachment proceedings suffer from obdurate dilettantism and intransigent amateurism -- continuously feeding on the simplistic, sometimes skewed information that the media provides.
Using the Filipino language in legal proceedings (informal as it may be), opens up an opportunity to educate and enlighten the audience when it comes to legal matters.
Even in legal trials, the bastion of verbal opacity should be adaptive to a language all Filipinos can relate to. Empathizing this entire weary situation is simply a cultural test for Filipinos, something that must look odd and backwards to a world that sees us as more.
The use of our mother tongue will hone and expand the Filipinos’ consciousness on the social impact of words delivered by these people rendering justice. Sheer presumptions can also be avoided.
While we continue to keep an eye on the ongoing impeachment trial against Chief Justice Renato S. Corona, we should maintain a clear perspective. Beyond favoring prosecution or defense is the hunger for truth. That same hunger will eventually make the necessary corrections in the current justice system in the Philippines.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek Jan 25-27, 2012 Sec A pg. 6)
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