SC extends court closure until end of extended lockdown, cancels Baguio summer session

MANILA – All courts across the Philippines will remain closed during the extension of the Luzon lockdown until April 30, the Supreme Court said Tuesday.

“[A]ll SC COVID-19 related circulars and orders will be extended and will remain effective until the end of the extended ECQ,” SC Public Information Office chief Brian Keith Hosaka told reporters in a message.

These circulars include the March 20 administrative circular which ordered the physical closure of all courts nationwide due to the “unabated rise of COVID-10 infections.”

• Luzon lockdown: As courts, prosecution offices close, human rights groups raise alarm

But the Supreme Court said courts may be reached through hotlines, email addresses and Facebook accounts.

It recently came out with guidelines for online filing of criminal complaints or information and posting of bails.

• SC allows online filing of criminal complaints, bail posting amid rising COVID-19 cases

The extension of the effectivity of COVID-19-related issuances comes hours after Cabinet Secretary and Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) spokesperson Karlo Nograles announced the extension of the ECQ until 11:59 PM of April 30.

• Philippines extends lockdown of millions in Luzon to April 30

SUMMER SESSION IN BAGUIO CANCELLED

The latest SC announcement also covers the SC justices’ yearly summer session in Baguio City, originally set to take place from April 12 to May 1 this year.

“The SC summer Baguio session has also been cancelled,” Hosaka said.

Among the issues expected to be tackled is the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General against ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. scheduled on April 14.

The SC has yet to release a copy of the order.

“We will be releasing the corresponding orders once they have been signed by the Chief Justice,” Hosaka said.

ABS-CBN News obtained a copy of a memorandum dated March 26 signed by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta suspending the Baguio summer session, although it scheduled an April 15 special session for SC magistrates.

The SC has yet to confirm the authenticity of the memorandum but in his announcement, Hosaka acknowledged the April 15 session.

“No decision yet if the April 15, 2020 Special Session will be moved to another date,” he told reporters.