All courts back to work

Priority is being given to face-to-face hearings of cases in trial courts. Video conferencing hearings may also be allowed subject to the approval of the Office of the Court Administrator.

Published on:

16 Sep 2022, 20:02

The Supreme Court and all courts nationwide up to the lowest trial courts will be 100 percent open for onsite work for a 15-day period until 30 September.

The SC, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and trial courts revise their work schedules and issue guidelines for a 15-day period depending on developments on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Court Administrator Raul Villanueva said all trial courts will be 100 percent working onsite until 30 September "there being no substantial adverse development regarding the Covid-19 situation in many parts of the country."

The work schedule of trial courts has been authorized by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

Full capacity operations in trial courts means flag-raising and lowering ceremonies are allowed; Saturday duty will continue; night courts are allowed to operate; jail visitations are permitted; raffling of cases is done onsite, and the personal filing of pleadings and required documents can be done subject to strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.