The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday announced the physical closure of courts in the additional areas placed under Alert Levels 3 and 4 by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The SC Office of the Court Administrator said the latest advisory, effective until January 31, covers the courts in Apayao (Cordillera region); Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Mimaropa); Masbate (Bicol); Siquijor (Central Visayas); Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay (Zamboanga Peninsula); Lanao del Norte (Northern Mindanao); Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental (Davao region); North Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat (Soccsksargen); Surigao del Norte (Caraga); and Maguindanao and Basilan (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao).
Courts in Kalinga, Ifugao, and Mountain Province, which have been placed under Alert Level 4, will remain closed.
In earlier directives, the SC said courts affected by the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections and ordered physically closed may still be contacted through official e-mail addresses and may conduct video conferences.
Online hearings may proceed on urgent matters, such as inquests, bail petitions, promulgations of acquittals, or dismissals in criminal cases while all pleadings and submission deadlines that are due until January 31 will be extended to February 1. (PNA)
