Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad
OCA Circular No. 133A-2021 outlines the guidelines for conducting videoconferencing hearings for remote appearances from abroad, which were previously suspended due to concerns related to extraterritorial application of Philippine laws and operational issues stemming from COVID-19. With the moratoriums now lapsed, judges are authorized to act on motions for videoconferencing, provided that the Philippine embassy or consulate has consented to the use of its facilities. Hearings must be scheduled during Philippine court hours, and priority should be given to cases involving remote participants. The costs incurred for these videoconferencing sessions will be borne by the moving party. This circular serves as an amendment to the earlier guidelines.
Quick Answers
- What is Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad about?
- OCA Circular No. 133A-2021 outlines the guidelines for conducting videoconferencing hearings for remote appearances from abroad, which were previously suspended due to concerns related to extraterritorial application of Philippine laws and operational issues stemming from COVID-19. With the moratoriums now lapsed, judges are authorized to act on motions for videoconferencing, provided that the Philippine embassy or consulate has consented to the use of its facilities. Hearings must be scheduled during Philippine court hours, and priority should be given to cases involving remote participants. The costs incurred for these videoconferencing sessions will be borne by the moving party. This circular serves as an amendment to the earlier guidelines.
- What type of law is OCA Circular No. 133A-2021?
- Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad (OCA Circular No. 133A-2021) is a Philippine Supreme Court Issuances enacted by the Congress of the Philippines.
- When was Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad enacted?
- Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad (OCA Circular No. 133A-2021) was enacted on Dec 7, 2021.
- What is the citation for Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad?
- Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad, OCA Circular No. 133A-2021, Dec 7, 2021 (Philippines)
Law Information
- Reference Number
- OCA Circular No. 133A-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
December 7, 2021
OCA CIRCULAR NO. 133A-2021
| TO | : | All Judges of the First and Second Level Courts |
| SUBJECT | : | Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad |
In OCA Circular Nos. 18-2021, dated 1 February 2021, and 56-2021, dated 5 May 2021, the implementation of the Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing 1 with respect to remote appearance from abroad was suspended until 1 April 2021 and 30 June 2021, respectively, upon the request of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., due to the "need to consider concerns raised by [the] various Foreign Service Posts," such as the "extraterritorial application of Philippine laws" and "operational concerns by reasons of COVID-19 and other circumstances."
Considering that the two (2) moratoriums have lapsed, motions for videoconferencing from Philippine embassies or consulates may now be acted upon, provided "that the concerned embassy or consulate of the Philippines has allowed the use of its facilities for videoconferencing," pursuant to Item IV (3), A.M. No. 20-12-01-SC, 2 taking into account their views on the applicable laws and regulations of, and agreement with, their respective host countries, and operational concerns by reason of COVID-19 and other circumstances. In any case, the videoconferencing hearings must be scheduled during the working hours of the Philippine courts, with proper coordination with the concerned embassy or consulate, at the expense of the moving party, if any. Furthermore, in the conduct of the said videoconferencing hearings, priority in the court calendars must be given by the Judges to those cases where witnesses/parties will remotely appear from abroad.
This Circular amends OCA Circular No. 133-2021 dated 3 November 2021.
(SGD.) RAUL BAUTISTA VILLANUEVADeputy Court Administrator(Per Memorandum Order No. 108-2021 dated 17 November 2021)
Footnotes
1. A.M. No. 20-12-01-SC, dated 9 December 2020, and incorporated in OCA Circular No. 209-2020 dated 29 December 2020 (Court En Banc Resolution dated 9 December 2020 in A.M. No. 20-12-01-SC [Re: Proposed Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing]).
2. Id.
Cite This Law
Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad, OCA Circular No. 133A-2021, Dec 7, 2021 (Philippines)
Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad, OCA Circular No. 133A-2021 (Phil. 2021)
Related Laws
- Reminder on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from AbroadOCA Circular No. 144-2023 • Mar 30, 2023 • Supreme Court Issuances
- Motions to Conduct Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from AbroadOCA Circular No. 109-2022 • May 13, 2022 • Supreme Court Issuances
- Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from AbroadOCA Circular No. 133-2021 • Nov 3, 2021 • Supreme Court Issuances
- Moratorium on the Implementation of the Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from AbroadOCA Circular No. 18-2021 • Feb 1, 2021 • Supreme Court Issuances
- Extension of the Moratorium on the Implementation of the Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from AbroadOCA Circular No. 56-2021 • May 5, 2021 • Supreme Court Issuances
- Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing with Respect to Remote Appearance from Abroad and Requirement of Prior Request for Mutual Legal Assistance, among OthersOCA Circular No. 171-2022 • Jul 7, 2022 • Supreme Court Issuances
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