Courts go on ‘holiday’ in North, Central Luzon

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Chaos and confusion greeted lawyers at the Justice Hall here on Wednesday morning when they learned that hearings were suspended and that several courts would not entertain transactions for the day.

Although judges and court employees were advised of the “court holiday” late afternoon Tuesday by a message supposedly coming from the Supreme Court’s Office of the Court Administrator, many lawyers said they were not informed of the cancellation of hearings and court transactions.

Lawyer Francisca Claver, vice president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines chapter here, said they came to court on Wednesday prepared for trial but were told that court officials and personnel were attending staff meetings.

Claver said the work stoppage was an inconvenience to lawyers and their clients. Some lawyers, she said, brought in witnesses from other places.

However, at least two judges here continued hearing cases on Wednesday morning.

Judge Roberto Mabalot, presiding judge of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 1, said he went on with his regular work schedule because he would decide on eight separate cases in his sala.

Regional Trial Court Judge (RTC) Iluminada Cabato also continued hearing cases on Wednesday morning.

Many court employees in Baguio reported for work wearing black shirts. Asked why, they said they heeded instructions circulated by text message.

The employees, however, said they had yet to come up with an official position on the ongoing conflict between the executive and judicial branches of government after President Aquino criticized Chief Justice Renato Corona. The President’s allies in the House of Representatives gathered 188 signatures on Monday to impeach Corona.

In Ilocos Norte, court employees in the province expressed support for Corona by holding a sit-down protest on Wednesday. Court employees went to work wearing black shirts.

Lawyer Bernadette Espejo, clerk of court at the RTC Branch 13 in Laoag City, said hearings scheduled on Wednesday were suspended.

Espejo said judges had the option to hear cases that required immediate attention and at least three judges in the city did so on Wednesday.

In Pampanga, employees of the municipal trial court covering Sta. Ana and Candaba towns reported for work but hearings and other business for the day were canceled.

Court employees in Bulacan and Tarlac reported for work in black shirts.

Work was also suspended in courts in Dagupan City and the capital town of Lingayen in Pangasinan. (Reports from Vincent Cabreza, Cristina Arzadon and Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon, and Tonette Orejas, Carmela Reyes-Estrope and Jo Martinez-Clemente, Inquirer Central Luzon)