SC suspends work in NCR, Central Luzon courts for post-quake inspection

Work in all courts in Metro Manila and Central Luzon was suspended on Tuesday following the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck Luzon late Monday afternoon.

According to the Supreme Court Public Information Office (SC PIO), the affected courts will undergo safety inspection to ensure their structural integrity following the quake.

Due to the effects of the earthquake yesterday & pending inspection of the safety & structural integrity of court houses, work in all courts in Metro Manila & Central Luzon is suspended today, 23Apr2019.
For courts in other affected areas, the Exec Judge may exercise discretion.

— Supreme Court PIO (@SCPh_PIO) April 22, 2019

“Due to the effects of the earthquake yesterday and pending inspection of the safety and structural integrity of court houses, work in all courts in Metro Manila and Central Luzon is suspended today, 23 April 2019,” the SC PIO tweeted.

The work suspension in courts in other earthquake-hit areas will depend on Executive Judge’s discretion, the SC-PIO also said.

Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin instructed immediate inspection of all court houses affected by the recent earthquake to ensure the structural integrity of court houses and also the safety of their personnel.

Bersamin also joined the inspection of the High Court's buildings in Padre Faura, Manila on Tuesday morning.

"So far, the buildings are okay," said court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka in the early afternoon, while engineers were still continuing the inspection. The Court is still waiting for the formal report, he said.

Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin went around the Supreme Court this morning to personally and carefully look on the earthquake’s aftermath. pic.twitter.com/P7wR4SKXxR

— Supreme Court PIO (@SCPh_PIO) April 23, 2019

—Joviland Rita and Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/KBK/KG, GMA News