Courts in areas under MECQ to stay closed

The Supreme Court on Friday said all courts in Metro Manila and in other areas under modified enhanced community quarantine will continue to be physically closed until May 14.

In a circular, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the physical closure order also covered all courts in the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Abra and Quirino, and Santiago City in Isabela.

“All physically closed courts and judicial offices under ECQ and MECQ may be reached through their respective hotlines and email addresses posted in the Supreme Court website – www.sc.judiciary.gov.ph,” he said.

“The time for filing of pleadings and motions during this period in these areas (ECQ and MECQ) is suspended and shall resume after seven calendar days counted from the first day of the physical reopening of the relevant court,” he added.

Justices and judges in the physically closed courts were directed to maximize the use of video conferencing “so as not to delay the trial of cases and court processes.”

On the other hand, courts and their judicial offices in areas under general community quarantine and those under modified GCQ should be physically open with a workforce of at least 25 percent, Gesmundo said.