By Sandra Cabangon

PHOTO: INQUIRER.net

In a bid to make public records become more accessible and comprehensible for all, neophyte Senator Robin Padilla is pushing for a measure that creates Filipino and regional translations of government-issued documents and even decisions of courts nationwide.

"Ang gusto natin halimbawa may batas na pumasa dapat ang Filipino, English Filipino, tapos sa regional, halimbawa Bisaya, Ilokano. Main lang, hindi lahat. Ang main na ginagamit, halimbawa Bisaya may Waray, Cebuano, Ilonggo," he stated in an interview.

Padilla committed that he would file a bill known as the Equal Use of Languages Act, which would guarantee that government documents are available in English and Filipino, and court decisions can also be recited in the person’s preferred language.

The senator expressed how difficult it is for those who do not understand English whenever laws and judicial sentences are announced, coming from his own experience as someone who was previously detained for illegal possession of firearms.

"Parang hindi patas para dun sa mga kababayan natin na ‘di ko naman sinasabing hindi nakakaintindi ng English ano, kundi masyado kasing ‘yung may kinalaman sa batas, 'yung mga English niyan masyadong hindi mo talaga din maitindihan. Kailangan na talagang magkaroon ng parehas na pagtrato sa salitang Pilipino at English," he explained.

"Naintindihan lang ng bilanggo ang sentensya niya ang number lang, pero bakit siya nasentensya, hindi niya alam," Padilla added. "Kapag sinentensyahan ka dapat nababasa mo sentensya mo sa salitang Pilipino, alam mo."

In addition, the senador added that ordinary Filipinos should not hesitate to request for Filipino versions of government documents, indicating that the country has been used to an “Amboy” mentality, or Filipinos acting as if they were Americans.

"Huwag dapat matakot ang kababayan nating mag-request. Kasi siyempre minsan nasanay tayo, masyado tayong Inglisero, masyado tayong Amboy (Filipino acting like an American)," Padilla said. "Dapat masanay tayong Pilipino na hingin 'yan. Hingin niyo."

Along with the Equal Use of Languages Act, Padilla also mentioned the Equality and Non-Discrimination Act, Medical Cannabis Compassionate Access Act, and the Divorce Act of as his priority bills and issues in the incoming Congress.


Iniwasto ni Annika Gorgeana V. Maningo