The Department of Justice (DOJ) is backing broader use of Filipino in court proceedings, saying greater access to the national language could help close the gap between the justice system and ordinary Filipinos.
DOJ Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato supported the Philippine Trial Lawyers Association’s renewed call for the Supreme Court to allow Filipino in court proceedings nationwide, arguing that language is critical to ensuring people understand proceedings that affect their rights and freedoms.
“For many Filipinos, the courtroom can feel like a place where justice is spoken in a foreign tongue,” Dato said.
He said the constitutional right of an accused person to be informed of the charges against them should mean more than simply providing a translation.
“It is not enough for the words to be translated; they must be naiintindihan,” he said.
Dato also pointed to the importance of language in witness testimony, saying witnesses may give more natural and accurate accounts when they can speak in a language they fully understand rather than first translating their thoughts into English.
The judiciary has already taken steps toward wider use of Filipino. The Supreme Court issued decisions written entirely in Filipino in May and July 2026, marking a broader push to make judicial language more accessible.
But Dato cautioned that expanding Filipino in the courts will require careful handling of technical legal terminology to ensure that translations retain their precise legal meaning.
He also warned against making the shift overly Tagalog-centric, noting that a language policy should not disadvantage Filipinos who primarily speak Cebuano, Ilocano or other Philippine languages.
“If the law is for the people, then its language must reach them, too,” Dato said.
