Court Operations in the First and Second Level Courts in the National Capital Judicial Region and in the Provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from 24 March-16 April 2021
OCA Circular No. 44-2021 outlines temporary court operations from March 24 to April 16, 2021, in the National Capital Judicial Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. In response to a court resolution, personnel in first and second level courts will be reduced to a skeleton staff of less than 30% to handle urgent matters. Judges are permitted to conduct fully-remote videoconferencing hearings without prior approval from the Office of the Court Administrator, including for bail applications involving persons deprived of liberty. The circular aims to streamline court operations during this period while maintaining essential judicial functions.
Law Information
- Reference Number
- OCA Circular No. 44-2021
- Date Enacted
- Category
- Supreme Court Issuances
- Subcategory
- Office of the Court Administrator Circulars
- Jurisdiction
- Philippines
- Enacting Body
- Congress of the Philippines
Full Law Text
March 23, 2021
OCA CIRCULAR NO. 44-2021
| TO | : | All Concerned Judges and Court Personnel |
| RE | : | Court Operations in the First and Second Level Courts in the National Capital Judicial Region and in the Provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from 24 March-16 April 2021 |
In keeping with the spirit of the Resolution of the Court en banc in A.M. No. 21-03-25-SC, dated 23 March 2021, to "DRASTICALLY REDUCE the Court personnel" in all court levels, and as approved by Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, all courts and offices in the first and second level courts in the National Capital Judicial Region (NCJR) and in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, shall maintain only a skeleton force (which may be less than thirty percent [30%] of the work staff) sufficient to attend to all urgent matters, from 24 March until 16 April 2021.
In addition, the judges in the said areas may conduct fully-remote videoconferencing hearings during the said period, without the prior permission from the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA). The said judges may likewise conduct such fully-remote videoconferencing hearings outside their respective judicial regions, but only in the resolution of bail applications of persons deprived of liberty, and provided they are within the NCJR or the four (4) provinces.
For the guidance of all concerned.
(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZCourt Administrator
Cite This Law
Court Operations in the First and Second Level Courts in the National Capital Judicial Region and in the Provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from 24 March-16 April 2021, OCA Circular No. 44-2021, Mar 23, 2021 (Philippines)
Court Operations in the First and Second Level Courts in the National Capital Judicial Region and in the Provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from 24 March-16 April 2021, OCA Circular No. 44-2021 (Phil. 2021)
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