SC suspends work in Metro Manila courts for whole of next week

Except for a skeletal force that will attend to urgent judicial matters, work in all courts in Metro Manila will be suspended next week when world leaders gather for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

While Proclamation No. 1072 (s. 2015) and Memorandum Circular No. 84 (s. 2015) only suspends work from November 17 to 20, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno decided to suspend court work even on November 16, Monday due to "the expected difficulty of travelling" that day.

On Monday, work is suspended in the first and second level courts of Manila and Makati but the executive judges were directed to maintain a skeleton force that will receive emergency filings, said the high tribunal in an advisory.

Work is also suspended in the Supreme Court except for the following offices: (i) JRO, (ii) Cashier, (iii) Motor pool, (iv) Clerk of Court En Banc (only for purposes of the En Banc session), and (v) Chambers of Justices (only for purposes of the En Banc session).

At the Court of Appeals, work is suspended except in the offices of its Judicial Records Division and Cash Division, and such other offices that the Presiding Justice may determine.

Then from Tuesday until the APEC summit concludes on Friday, work is also suspended in all courts in the National Capital Judicial Region.

However, the respective presiding pustices of the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals  were directed to maintain a skeletal force to attend to urgent matters, like the returns of warrants of arrest.

The executive judges of the first and second level trial courts in the NCJR likewise should maintain a skeleton force for emergency filings, added the SC. -NB, GMA News