MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Sunday announced that it has extended its work suspension until March 16 for the continuation of cleaning and disinfection of its offices due to the rising cases of COVID-19.
“After consultation with the Justices and Chiefs of Offices, a continuation of the disinfection, cleaning, and sanitation of the different buildings and offices of the Supreme Court is hereby ordered to be undertaken to minimize the possible spread of the infection,” Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said in a two-page memorandum.
Peralta added that during the period of disinfection, committees with previously scheduled meetings may be allowed to proceed depending upon the discretion of the chairperson or head of the committee.
Court sessions shall proceed via videoconferencing, but the oral arguments on the petitions against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 scheduled for Tuesday are suspended.
“Urgent matters should be attended to by the concerned chiefs or heads of offices, who are expected to be reached at anytime of the day,” Peralta said in the memorandum.
“On-duty personnel of the Medical and Dental Services (skeleton force), Security and Maintenance Divisions, Office of Administrative-Services- Supreme Court, are authorized to report for work on March 15 to 16, 2021,” he added.
The Chief Justice said that the flag ceremony to be held in Rizal Park on Monday, March 15 shall proceed as scheduled “but strictly following health protocols.”
And from March 17 to 19, 2021, all offices are required to maintain a skeleton force of 50 percent in order to maintain physical distancing of six feet, he added.
Originally, the work suspension in the High Court was from March 11 to 14.
As of March 14, the Philippines’ total COVID-19 case count shot up to 621,498 with 4,899 new infections.