Judge limits number of people inside Cebu City courts to reduce spread of new coronavirus
CEBU CITY — Even as Cebu City shifted to general community quarantine (GCQ) last August 1, only a limited number of people will be allowed at the Cebu City Hall of Justice (CCHJ) to further slow down the spread of the virus.
In a memorandum, Executive Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul of the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City said no walk-in inquiries, requests, and transactions shall be entertained as people are encouraged to call the hotline numbers or send a message to the email addresses of the courts and its offices during office hours if they have any questions or clarifications.
“Those who have queries, requests and transactions shall be guided by the concerned branch/office on when, if necessary, can or should they go to court for the purpose,” he said.
Pleadings in criminal, civil and other cases ; applications for bail; and other court submissions may be filed either manually or electronically.
Hadjirasul said those making a manual filing shall first call the concerned branch or office for guidance on whether they should be allowed to enter the CCHJ or their document/s picked-up by the concerned staff.
Each calendared case, on the other hand, would be allotted a specific time for hearing.
“Only the counsel, parties and the witness to be presented should be allowed entry in the CCHJ, and only at the time specified for the case should they be allowed such entry. Judges and court staff should specify in the notices/orders the time each case shall be called for hearing,” Hadjirasul said.
An accused on bail, he said, need not appear in court unless required to do so.
“Judges are encouraged to not require such an accused to appear in court unless necessary [during arraignment and pre-trial, when needed to testify, or for identification purposes if necessary, and during promulgation of judgment],” he said.
Law enforcers bringing arrested persons for the issuance of commitment order/s were also advised to call the concerned branch/office for guidance and will be allowed entry only when permitted.
In the solemnization of marriage, only a maximum of five people, including the bride and the groom, are allowed inside the court or the CCHJ.
They shall also call the branch of the solemnizing judge before they are allowed entry.
All court staff, officials, employees, workers, court users, and authorized visitors must bring their identification cards and wear face masks and face shields.
Those authorized to enter the CCHJ shall step on the “disinfectant foot mat” to be placed at the entrance and exit, submit themselves to no-contact thermal scanning, as well as observe physical distancing at all times inside the building.
They shall also be required to fill-up a logbook/record with relevant information for contact tracing and security purposes.
Not more than four passengers shall be allowed in each elevator.
“Court users, who have been authorized to enter the Cebu City Hall of Justice, shall leave as soon as their presence is no longer officially required,” Hadjirasul said.
LZB
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