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SC extends physical closure of courts in NCR Plus until April 18


The Supreme Court on Saturday extended the physical closure of courts in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its four nearby provinces until Sunday next week, April 18.

In an administrative circular, the high court cited the “unabated rise of COVID-19 cases, the requests of judges and court personnel, and upon concurrence of the members of the Court en banc” for the extension of physical closure of all courts and judicial offices in the NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

Physical closure of courts in the area are supposed to be only until April 11.

With the extension of court closure, the Supreme Court said the time for filing and service of pleadings and motions during the period is suspended and shall resume seven calendar days counted from the first day of physical reopening of the relevant court.

It noted, however, that courts in the NCR Plus shall continue to operate through videoconferencing “as far as practicable.”

“Judges may conduct fully remote videoconferencing hearings on pending cases and other matters, whether urgent or not, regardless of their physical location and without prior permission from the Office of the Court Administrator,” the Supreme Court said.

On Friday, the Philippine reported 12,225 new infections bringing the total number of active cases to 178,351.

The Supreme Court, nonetheless, said that essential judicial offices shall maintain the necessary skeleton staff to attend to all urgent matters. -MDM, GMA News

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