DUE TO COVID-19 SURGE

SC closes courts in NCR, nearby provinces until end of Holy Week

The Supreme Court on Saturday announced the closure of courts in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal starting March 29 until the end of Holy Week.

In an advisory signed by acting Chief Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, the SC said members of the court en banc decided to physically close the courts and its offices due to the “alarming” surge of COVID-19 cases.

The SC order includes the Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and trial courts.

All hearings in the said courts will be temporarily suspended except on urgent matters such as petitions, motions, and pleadings related to bail and habeas corpus, promulgation of judgments of acquittal, relief for those who may be arrested and detained during the said period.

Bernabe said the courts and their offices should remain accessible through their hotlines and email addresses as published on the SC website to accommodate urgent matters and to answer pertinent queries.

The SC will further release notices and guidelines to address the safety concerns of court personnel and litigants, Bernabe said. —DVM, GMA News