Physical closure of courts in NCR Plus extended until April 18–SC
MANILA, Philippines – Physical closure of courts in NCR Plus is extended until April 18, the Supreme Court announced on Saturday.
“Considering the unabated rise of COVID-19 cases, the requests of the judges and court personnel, and upon the concurrence of the members of the Court en banc, ALL the courts and judicial offices in the National Capital Judicial Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal shall remain physically closed until 18 April 2021,” Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo said in a Administrative Circular addressed to concerned Justices, Judges, court personnel and court users
“They may be reached through their hotlines and email addresses as posted in the Supreme Court website,” he added.
The Chief Justice noted that “the courts in these areas shall continue to operate through videoconferencing as far as practicable. Judges may conduct fully remote videoconferencing hearings on pending cases and other matters, whether urgent or not, regardless of their physical location and without prior permission from the Office of the Court Administrator.”
In addition, the Supreme Court said, “Filing and service of pleadings and motions during this period is SUSPENDED and shall resume after seven (7) calendar days counted from the first day of physical reopening of the relevant court.”
However, necessary skeleton staff of essential judicial offices is maintained to attend to all urgent matters.
