SC: Courts stay closed until May 31

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered all courts in Metro Manila and other areas under the modified enhanced community quarantine to remain closed until May 31.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said all official meetings, seminars, training programs and other activities in those areas were also deferred unless conducted through videoconferencing.

The exemptions were those activities authorized by him or by the Judiciary Task Force on COVID-19.

The high court also allows the solemnization of civil weddings – provided the number of witnesses and guests do not exceed five people.

Peralta said the Supreme Court would continue to hold special en banc and division sessions if those were deemed necessary either through meetings or through videoconferencing.

Peralta also extended the Supreme Court’s decision-writing period until May 31, but he required all chiefs of offices and services to devise their respective work-from-home schemes and operating procedures from May 18 to 29.

He also required all court personnel to be given certain tasks to effectively implement their offices’ mandates during the work-from-home scheme and said the high court would also continue to receive petitions and pleadings electronically.

And although the courts in the MECQ areas were closed, they would continue to operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday until May 29, Peralta said.

He added that the raffle of cases in all courts in the areas under quarantine would still proceed either electronically or through videoconferencing.