QC Hall of Justice on lockdown amid info of suspected COVID-19 patient’s death

The Quezon City Hall of Justice is on lockdown starting Monday until further notice to give way to contact tracing and disinfection in case it is confirmed that a suspected COVID-19 patient went to the building shortly before the patient's death.

Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert said there was "circulating and unconfirmed news" that an employee of another agency holding office at the building went to the Hall of Justice a few days before dying of severe pneumonia and suspected COVID-19.

If the information is found to be true, contact tracing and disinfection should be conducted, prompting a closure of the building upon the authority given by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, Villavert said.

"Accordingly, entrance of any person at the Hall of Justice, Quezon City shall be disallowed during the said period," the executive judge said in a statement.

Villavert, meanwhile, denied that an employee of either the regional or the metropolitan trial court of Quezon City died of suspected COVID-19.

She said pleadings in both civil and criminal cases, including criminal complaints, informations, and applications for bail, shall be filed electronically pursuant to a Supreme Court (SC) administrative circular.

She added that all inquiries may be directed to the official hotline numbers of the regional and metropolitan trial courts as posted on the SC website.

All courts in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine, including Metro Manila, remain physically closed and accessible by phone or through email or Facebook. — RSJ, GMA News