All RTC judges, staff in Manila City Hall to go under self-quarantine

All regional trial court (RTC) judges and personnel stationed at the Manila City Hall were told to go on self-quarantine after two court employees were found to have been in contact with close relatives positive for COVID-19.

Executive Judge Virgilio Macaraig required the concerned judges and court staff to undergo self-quarantine from Thursday, June 18, to June 30 and to conduct tracing of all persons they may have been in contact with at the court premises for the last two weeks.

Judges may decide whether or not to proceed with in-court hearings scheduled for Thursday, Macaraig said in a memorandum that was confirmed by Supreme Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka.

The affected courts may conduct hearings through videoconferencing and accept pleadings and motions filed electronically during the self-quarantine period.

Judges were also told to monitor their office hotlines and emails to address urgent queries.

Macaraig said they have requested the Manila local government to disinfect the court premises at the city hall.

Another court building in Manila, the Old Ombudsman Building, is on lockdown until June 29 after a prosecutor from Mandaluyong who had tested positive for COVID-19 went there.

Mandaluyong City's New Hall of Justice is also on lockdown until June 29. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News