Metro RTCs stay open during papal visit

A COAST guard team rehearses security maneuvers near SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City for the papal visit next week. JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines—Trial courts in Metro Manila will continue operating with a skeletal staff to ensure the delivery of services during the three days that have been declared special nonworking holidays for the visit of Pope Francis next week.

School authorities in the Metro, however, have suspended classes and employees don’t need to report for work during the papal visit.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno issued an administrative order on Jan. 6 requiring a skeletal workforce to man Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTC) and Regional Trial Courts (RTC) in Metro Manila on Jan. 15, 16 and 19. Through Proclamation No. 936, President Aquino declared the working days as papal holidays to pave the way for the much-anticipated visit of Pope Francis.

“…[A]dequate judicial services must nevertheless continue to be provided in the National Capital Judicial Region (NCJR) during the said period,” said Sereno in her order released on Friday.

“Accordingly, the concerned Executive Judges of the first and second level courts (MeTCs and RTCs) in the NCJR are directed to maintan a skeletal force of personnel in their respective stations (including their respective Offices of the Clerk of Court) during the aforementioned special nonworking days,” she said.

Trial courts should be manned during the three nonworking days “to attend to emergency relief that trial courts can grant,” including bail to litigants.

The Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals, meanwhile, will be closed during the papal visit. Tarra Quismundo