Courts in GCQ areas to ‘physically open,’ says SC

MANILA, Philippines – All courts in areas under General Community Quarantine classification will be physically open starting Wednesday, the Supreme Court said.

“All courts in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) shall be physically opened to court users. However, the courts may still be reached through their respective hotline numbers, email addresses, and or Facebook accounts as posted on the website of the Supreme Court,” the high court said in the Administrative Circular No. 45-2020 issued Tuesday.

Under the Circular, all hearings in both criminal and civil cases in regional trial courts, family courts, and first-level courts shall be fully “in-court” except when a person deprived of liberty is involved, or under exceptional circumstances where fully-remote videoconferencing hearings may be conducted.

But it has to have prior approval from the Office of the Court Administrator.

On pleadings, the circular stated that pleadings in both criminal and civil cases may still, be filed electronically.

On the other hand, “night courts and Saturday courts shall remain suspended until further notice” while “raffle of cases in all courts shall proceed in-court, or electrically in eCourt stations.’

As for the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals, the high court said it may also receive pleadings in both criminal and civil cases electronically.

“The Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals shall continue to resolve and decide cases pending before them. All hearings shall be fully in-court, except under exceptional circumstances where at least one Justice may join remotely thro0ough videoconferencing with prior approval from the Presiding Justice, and subsequent submission of a weekly report to the Office of the Chief Justice,’ it said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court en banc and the three divisions will conduct in court sessions though not discounting videoconferencing hearings “under exceptional circumstances” with the approval of Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta.

“All the other offices and services of the Court shall be physically opened and may operate with a skeleton staff of not less than fifty percent,’ it said.

The circular was issued after President Rodrigo Duterte has announced that Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, and Cavite will return General Community Quarantine.[ac]