Work in NCR courts suspended during Apec meet

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has ordered the suspension of work in all courts in the National Capital Region from Nov. 17 to 20 in view of the activities related to the Philippine hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

“Work is suspended in all courts in the National Capital Judicial Region, except that the respective presiding justices of the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals shall maintain a skeletal force for the purpose of attending to urgent matters, e.g. return of warrants of arrest; the executive judges of the first and second level trial courts in the NCJR likewise should maintain a skeleton force for emergency filings,” the high court’s public information office said.

Work at the Supreme Court is suspended except in the judicial records office, cashier, motor pool, clerk of court en banc (for purposes of the en banc session) and chambers of the justices.

Likewise work at the Court of Appeals is suspended except for offices that will be designated by the presiding justice.

Sereno, meanwhile, also suspended operations in the first and second level courts of Manila and Makati on Monday, Nov. 16, due to road closures.