SC: Courts in GCQ areas can hear all pending matters starting May 18

Courts in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) will be allowed to hear all matters pending before them starting next week, the Supreme Court said Friday.

In the latest administrative circular as the judiciary transitions out of a nationwide physical closure, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said all courts in GCQ areas will be physically open from May 18 to 29 with a skeletal workforce.

All transactions, however, should first be coursed through and acted upon by phone or through email or Facebook. Walk-in requests will not be entertained.

"All the courts in the GCQ areas shall continue to resolve and decide all the cases pending before them. The hearings, either in-court or through videoconferencing, of all the matters pending before them, in both criminal and civil cases, whether newly-filed or pending, and regardless of the stage of the trial, are now herein authorized," Peralta said.

In case in-court hearings are held, courts must strictly observe health protocols, including the wearing of face masks, the use of no-contact thermal scanning, and physical distancing.

An earlier circular from the chief justice for courts in GCQ areas, covering May 1 to 15, allowed a physical opening but only authorized judges to act on urgent matters.

In another circular issued Thursday, Peralta allowed the courts authorized to hold hearings through videoconferencing to hear even non-urgent matters.

His latest issuance on Friday provides that courts in GCQ areas will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays until May 29. Night courts and Saturday courts are still suspended until May 30.

For electronically filed communications to be acted upon within the day, they would have to be received by the courts from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., according to the circular.

Civil weddings may be solemnized as long as the parties, witnesses, and guests do not exceed five people. Health standards should also be observed.

The circular adds that the filing of pleadings and other court submissions as well as court actions that are due up to May 31 is extended for 30 calendar days counted from June 1. Pleadings may be filed electronically within the original period "if preferred and able."

Judges may promulgate and release the decisions and orders they drafted before or during the GCQ period. The service of writs and other court processes may also proceed in GCQ areas.

Thirty-eight provinces and 12 cities across the country are covered by GCQ. The National Capital Region, Laguna, and Cebu City will be under a modified enhanced community quarantine from May 16 to 31. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News