Pilot Testing of Hearings through Videoconferencing

May 18, 2020

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 96-2020

 

In A.C. 37-2020, the Court authorized the pilot-testing of videoconferencing hearings on urgent matters in criminal cases involving Persons Deprived of Liberty during his period of public health emergency in identified court stations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, including the entire National Capital Judicial Region. In A.C. 39-2020 and A.C. No. 40-2020, the authority to pilot-test videoconferencing hearings was expanded to "ALL matters pending before (the courts), in both criminal and civil cases, whether newly-filed or pending and regardless of the stage of trial." 1

Considering that the entire country has been on different levels of quarantine in the last two (2) 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.

Accordingly, upon approval of Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, the following court stations are herein authorized to pilot-test hearings through videoconferencing of all matters pending before them, in both criminal and civil cases, regardless of the stage of the trial, during this public health emergency:

REGION 1

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

Narvacan, Ilocos Sur

Bauang, La Union

San Fernando City, La Union

Lingayen, Pangasinan

Urdaneta City, Pangasinan

REGION 2

Aparri, Cagayan

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

Lagawe, Ifugao

Cauayan, Isabela

Echague, Isabela

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

REGION 3

Baler, Aurora

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

REGIONS 4A/4B

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 5

Ligao, Albay

Daet, Camarines Norte

Iriga City, Camarines Sur

Libmanan, Camarines Sur

Pili, Camarines Sur

Virac, Catanduanes

Masbate City, Masbate

Gubat, Sorsogon

REGION 6

Roxas City, Capiz

Sipalay, Neg. Occidental

Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

Silay City, Neg. Occ.

Barotac Viejo, Iloilo

Culasi-Sebaste, Antique

REGION 7

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 8

Maasin City, So. Leyte

Catbalogan, Samar

Gandara, Samar

REGION 9

Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

REGION 10

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 11

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 12

Cotabato City, Maguindanao

Kabacan, North Cotabato

Isulan, Sultan Kudarat

Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat

Except on the matters and cases which can be heard through videoconferencing, the provisions of A.C. No. 37-2020 shall be applicable to the court stations above. The provisions of A.C. No. 39-2020 and A.C. 40-2020 shall likewise be applicable to the court stations above, depending on whether the court stations are in areas under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (A.C. No. 39-2020) or under General Community Quarantine (A.C. No. 40-2020).

FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION.

Makati City, May 18, 2020.

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZCourt Administrator

 

Footnotes

1. Paragraph 17, A.C. No. 39-2020; also par. 6, A.C. No. 40-2020.