Courts in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 to operate at full capacity

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MANILA, Philippines — Courts located in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 will operate at full capacity beginning March 1.

The Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, Sandiganbayan will resume its on-site working capacity from Tuesday, as the national government said Alert Level 1 will be imposed starting March 1 in Metro Manila and 38 other areas across the country.

At the Supreme Court, only the offices with limited spaces should operate with 80 percent capacity while the remaining 20 percent of personnel under these offices should work from home.

Official time in courts is from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

For the Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, and Sandiganbayan, hearings will be conducted in court from March 1 but only the parties, counsels, witnesses, and other persons allowed by the court should be inside the courtroom.

The videoconference will be allowed only in exceptional cases.

Raffle of cases should likewise be conducted on-site as well as the filing of pleadings. Electronic filing of pleadings is still allowed but for Sandiganbayan, there has to be prior coordination with the Court of Tax Appeals and hard copies should still be filed within five days from the date of electronic filing.

Meanwhile, personnel experiencing flu-like symptoms should report immediately to their medical offices and immediate supervisors.

“Individual health condition of those reporting on-site will be thoroughly checked upon entering the SC premises. They must not have even the slightest symptoms. They shall be monitored from time to time to ensure that they strictly observe all health and safety protocols, and that they remain to have no symptoms of COVID-19 infection,” Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said in a circular issued for the Supreme Court’s operation.

All court officials and employees shall undergo antigen testing once a month at the Court of Appeals, according to Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando.

The courts should also only allow visitors with official court businesses inside the court premises but these visitors are required to present proof of vaccination upon entry.

Lower courts

While all courts in  Alert Level 1 areas should be fully operational, based on the circular issued by the Office of the Court Administrator, judges without space or facilities of their own but who already have their own personnel will only maintain a skeleton force of at least 75 percent.

Night courts will be allowed to operate and judges will be permitted to conduct jail visitations. Flag raising and flag lowering ceremonies will also be allowed in courts located in Alert Level 1 areas.

As for courts in areas under Alert Level 2, their operation will be allowed with at least 80 percent capacity while judges without space but have their own personnel can operate at 50 percent capacity.

Night courts are not allowed to operate in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 2.

Common court operations for Alert Levels 1 and 2

Under both Alert Levels 1 and 2, pleadings and other motions may be filed or served by registered mail or can be transmitted through electronic mail.

In case there are conflicting alert levels and community quarantine, the Office of the Court Administrator said the more restrictive classification should prevail.

Regular office hours should be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for Judicial Regions 1-12, and 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for the National Capital Region.

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