A Catholic priest, who specializes in sign language interpretation, is pushing for the accreditation of more court interpreters for the deaf in Negros Oriental, and for Congress to approve a bill for it.

Fr. Christian Benjamin of the Diocese of Dumaguete said that he is now the only licensed court interpreter for the deaf in the province. He said he has been an interpreter for 11 years now, starting while he was still studying at the seminary.

He said there is a need for more interpreters as there are deaf people who are not formally schooled in the sign language.

Benjamin was summoned to the court yesterday to interpret for a 21-year-old deaf female from Valencia, Negros Oriental, who had filed a rape complaint. The hearing was moved to December, which the priest said, will give him enough time to study the case. He said he will stand on neutral ground and will only act as interpreter for all the parties involved.

He said he hopes a bill will be passed that will allow, not just licensed or accredited sign language interpreters to participate in court hearings, but also other persons who can communicate with the hearing-impaired who have not undergone formal education.

A group of interpreters is being headed by Benjamin and he said he hopes some of them will show interest in being court interpreters. He said he can accredit other interpreters after they reach a certain level of expertise.

Benjamin is a member of the Philippine Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf, a national group that accredits court interpreters in the country. He first took the examination 11 years ago in Bacolod City, and has since passed all four levels. He said a fifth level has been added to the examination for accreditation purposes.*JFP

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