SC allows lower courts to conduct fully remote hearings via videoconference

The Supreme Court building viewed from its closed gateway.—INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has authorized first and second level courts to conduct fully-remote videoconferencing in holding hearings and other legal proceedings, to avoid contracting COVID-19.

According to Circular No. 67-2021 from the Office of the Court Administrator, the request of some judges and court personnel was approved by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo in consideration of the different quarantine protocols put in place to prevent transmissions.

“(S)o as not to delay the trial of cases and court proceedings, and upon approval of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, all judges of the first and second-level courts may conduct fully-remote videoconferencing hearings, regardless of their physical location in the country, with notice to the Office of the Court Administrator,” the circular written by Court Administrator Midas Marquez read.

First-level courts are composed of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts. Meanwhile, second-level courts are Regional Trial Courts and their branches.

Most parts of the country are currently under general community quarantine (GCQ) or modified (GCQ), but that does not mean that COVID-19 cases have subsided significantly, especially in Metro Manila which recently dealt with a surge.

As of Monday, the country’s active COVID-19 cases increased slightly again to 54,290 after DOH reported 6,684 new infections — a week after active cases went below the 50,000 mark.

All in all, there are 1,230,301 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.

EDV