SC expands pilot-testing of video-conferencing of pending cases

The Supreme Court has expanded the pilot-testing of video conferencing to address the delay in the resolution of pending cases arising from the physical closure of courts nationwide due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The SC, through the Office of the Court Administrator, issued OCA Circular No. 96-2020 designating 84 court stations from different region across the country that have been authorized to pilot test hearings through videoconferencing of all matters pending before them, in both criminal and civil cases.

Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said the SC has mandated the use of videoconferencing in both criminal and civil cases, whether newly-filed or pending and regardless of the stage of the trial.

“Considering that the entire country has been on different levels of quarantine in the last two months, court action on pending cases before courts which have not been authorized to conduct hearings through videoconferencing has been delayed. Hence, there is a need to authorize more courts across the country to conduct hearings through videoconferencing to address unacted matters which in the meantime have accumulated,” Marquez said in the latest OCA circular.

According to Marquez, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta have approved the expanded pilot testing of videoconferencing on the following areas: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte ‘ Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; Bauang, La Union; San Fernando City, La Union; Lingayen, Pangasinan; Urdaneta City, Pangasinan (Region 1).

Aparri, Cagayan; Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Lagawe, Ifugao; Cauayan, Isabela; Echague, Isabela; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (Region 2).

Malolos City, Bulacan; San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Gapan City, Nueva Ecija; Macabebe, Pampanga; Paniqui, Tarlac; Tarlac City, Tarlac; Iba, Zambales (Region 3).

Batangas City, Batangas; Lipa City, Batangas; Bacoor City, Cavite; Dasmariñas City, Cavite; Biñan City, Laguna; Cabuyao, Laguna; San Pedro, Laguna; Sta. Rosa, Laguna; Catanauan, Quezon; Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, Roxas, Palawan Romblon, Romblon (Region 4A/4B).

Ligao, Albay; Daet, Camarines Norte; Iriga City, Camarines Sur; Libmanan, Camarines Sur; Pili, Camarines Sur; Virac, Catanduanes; Masbate City, Masbate; Gubat, Sorsogon; (Region 5).

Roxas City, Capiz; Sipalay, Neg. Occidental; Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental ; Silay City, Neg. Occ.; Barotac Viejo, Iloilo; Culasi-Sebaste, Antique (Region 6).

Carcar City, Cebu; Talisay City, Cebu; Bogo City, Cebu; Naga City, Cebu; Oslob, Cebu; Malabuyoc-Ginatil-Algeria, Cebu; Bais City, Negros Oriental; Tagbilaran City, Bohol ; Talibon, Bohol; Talibon-Getafe, Bohol; Loay-Albuquerque-Baclayon, Bohol; Trinidad-San Miguel-Bien Unido, Bohol (Region 7).

Maasin City, So. Leyte; Catbalogan, Samar ; Gandara, Samar (Region 8).

Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental ; Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental; Tangub, Misamis Occidental; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur; Valencia, Bukidnon; Mambajao, Camiguin (Region 10).

Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; Tagum, Davao del Norte; Panabo, Davao del Norte; Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte; Mati, Davao Oriental ; Davao City, Davao del Sur; Malita, Davao Occidental; Surallah, South Cotabato; Bislig, Surigao del Sur (Region 11); Cotabato City, Maguindanao; Kabacan, North Cotabato; Isulan, Sultan Kudarat; Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat (Region 12).

Marquez earlier said video conferencing would be utilize “while there is public health emergency unless extended by the Supreme Court thereafter.”

The Court Administrator added that videoconferencing will be the “new normal during public health emergency” for the judiciary.

The video conferencing has long been practiced and adopted during court trial of cases in the technologically advanced countries such as the United States to address delays in court proceedings.

The method is described as “the holding of a conference among people at remote locations by means of transmitted audio and video signals.”

Through these conferences, “individuals meet one another in a real-time virtual manner ‘as if they were in the same room’ without the hassle and expense of traveling.”

Courts in the National Capital Region and several other court stations in the country have previously been authorized to pilot test videoconferencing.