Supreme Court lifts COVID regulations in courts

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court through the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) has lifted COVID-19 regulations in all first and second-level courts nationwide, following the lifting of the public health emergency in July.

In its memorandum on Friday, the high court said that face-to-face in-court hearings were to be given priority over virtual or videoconferencing modes, which are subject to its memorandum released in March.

“Utmost priority shall be given to in-court or face-to-face hearings and the conduct of videoconferencing hearings, if warranted, in court, from home or in other locations shall be subject to the provisions of OCA Circular No. 43-2022 dated 1 March 2022. Also, and among others, the raffle of cases in multi-sala stations should be in-person,” the memorandum said.

Antigen testing will only be required on individuals with suspected or symptomatic COVID-19 symptoms, while seminars of the Philippine Judicial Academy and the Office of Administrative Services (OAS) will still require antigen testing.

While the wearing of face masks will now be optional inside courts, judges at their own discretion may still require participants to do so. Judges may also require antigen testing on “justified medical grounds.”

“The wearing of face masks is now optional inside the Supreme Court premises and in the halls of justice. However, Judges, upon their discretion, may require wearing of face masks inside their courts or halls of justice,” the memorandum added.

Judges and clerks of court are also tasked to report to the OAS-OCA for any member of the court staff who has COVID-19 symptoms.

On July 21, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation No. 297, which lifted the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19, after two years.

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