All courts in NCR, Alert Level 1 areas fully operational until March 31 — SC (Sabong News)

All courts in the National Capital Region (NCR) and those in areas under Covid-19 Alert Level 1 are fully operational with 100 percent of officials and employees reporting physically for work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday until March 31. Aside from trial courts, also fully operational are the Supreme Court (SC), Court of Appeals (CA) — in Manila, Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City — Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals (CTA). While only the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) issued a reiterative circular on trial court operations last March 16, the Feb. 28, 2022 circulars issued by the SC, CA, Sandiganbayan and CTA on full court operations are deemed effective until March 31. Aside from the NCR, the other areas in Luzon under Alert Level 1 until March 31 are: Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Kalinga, Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela, Quirino, Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City,Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena City, Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City, Romblon, Naga City and Catanduanes. Ten areas in the Visayas under Alert Level 1 are Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Siquijor, Biliran, Ormoc City, and Tacloban City. In Mindanao, under Alert Level 1 are Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Davao City and Butuan City. Trial courts in areas under Alert Level 1 are also allowed to operate night courts which have been organized and when required. Also, trial court judges may conduct jail visitations and flag raising/lowering ceremonies are allowed. Other areas in the country are under Alert Level 2, also until March 31. Trial courts under Alert Level 2 are to operate with only a maximum of 80 percent of total personnel on-site. Night courts are not allowed to operate. In the circular issued last Feb. 28, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo said in SC offices with limited spaces, only 80 per cent of total personnel may be allowed to physically report for work. Among these are the offices of the clerks of court, Philippine Judicial Academy, judicial records office, and OCA’s legal office. Gesmundo’s memorandum also stated: “The 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.” Personal filing of petitions, other pleadings, and court submissions are allowed at the SC. At the CA in Manila, raffles of newly filed cases and hearings are allowed on-site “unless prior approval to conduct business via video conferencing is secured from the Presiding Justice,” the office order issued by Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar Fernando stated. The orders on work arrangement in the Sandiganbayan and the CTA were issued by Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje Tang and Presiding Justice Roman G. Del Rosario, respectively.