Marawi courts back in operation

Courts in Marawi are back in operation a week after they were closed because of the siege staged by the extremist Maute Group.

In a memorandum issued by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, Marawi courts have reopened but will be conducting their operations in Iligan City.

The High Court specifically directed Marawi regional trial court Executive Judge Wenida Papandayan to “hold temporary office with skeleton force at the Iligan City Hall of Justice and conduct the courts’ usual business as far as practicable, including acting on urgent matters.”

Marquez said instructions have already been given to Iligan RTC Executive Judge Anisah Umpa about the matter.

The high court made the contingency measure pursuant to the requirement on declaration of martial law under Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution that courts should remain open.

After President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno ordered all courts to stay open.

However, Marawi courts were closed after receiving report from Papandayan that many of the judges and court personnel were affected by the fighting between Maute terrorists and government troops – most of them even trapped in their homes. IDL/rga

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