Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas
On January 12, 2022, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued Memorandum Order No. 10-2022 in response to rising COVID-19 cases linked to the Omicron variant. All courts in designated areas, including the National Capital Region and several provinces, will be physically closed from January 13 to January 31, 2022, with court users encouraged to communicate via hotlines and digital platforms. In-court hearings are suspended, but urgent matters may proceed through remote videoconferencing. Additionally, filing deadlines for court submissions due in January are extended until February 1, 2022. Compliance with these guidelines is mandatory for all court personnel and users.
Quick Answers
- What is Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas about?
- On January 12, 2022, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued Memorandum Order No. 10-2022 in response to rising COVID-19 cases linked to the Omicron variant. All courts in designated areas, including the National Capital Region and several provinces, will be physically closed from January 13 to January 31, 2022, with court users encouraged to communicate via hotlines and digital platforms. In-court hearings are suspended, but urgent matters may proceed through remote videoconferencing. Additionally, filing deadlines for court submissions due in January are extended until February 1, 2022. Compliance with these guidelines is mandatory for all court personnel and users.
- What type of law is Supreme Court Memorandum Order No. 10-2022?
- Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas (Supreme Court Memorandum Order No. 10-2022) is a Philippine Supreme Court Issuances enacted by the Congress of the Philippines.
- When was Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas enacted?
- Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas (Supreme Court Memorandum Order No. 10-2022) was enacted on Jan 12, 2022.
- What is the citation for Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas?
- Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas, Supreme Court Memorandum Order No. 10-2022, Jan 12, 2022 (Philippines)
Law Information
- Reference Number
- Supreme Court Memorandum Order No. 10-2022
- Date Enacted
- Category
- Supreme Court Issuances
- Subcategory
- Memorandum Orders
- Jurisdiction
- Philippines
- Enacting Body
- Congress of the Philippines
Full Law Text
January 12, 2022
SUPREME COURT MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 10-2022
| TO | : | All Justices, Judges, Court Personnel, Lawyers, and Court Users |
| RE | : | Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas |
In view of the increasing rise of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, and with the National Capital Region, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, and 14 other areas in the country placed under Alert Level 3 (Baguio City in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Dagupan City in Region 1; City of Santiago and Cagayan in Region 2; Angeles City, Bataan, Olongapo City, Pampanga, and Zambales in Region 3; Batangas and Lucena City in Region 4-A; Naga City in Region 5; Iloilo City in Region 6; and Lapu-Lapu City in Region 7), upon consultation with the Court en banc, the following are hereby ORDERED:
1. ALL COURTS IN THE ABOVE-MENTIONED AREAS, from the Supreme Court down to the first level courts, SHALL BE PHYSICALLY CLOSED to all court users and may be reached only through their respective HOTLINES, and email addresses and facebook accounts, if available, effective tomorrow, 13 January 2022, Thursday until 31 January 2022, Monday.
2. ALL IN-COURT HEARINGS IN THE ABOVE-ENUMERATED AREAS are suspended, BUT fully remote videoconferencing hearings may proceed on urgent matters, such as inquests, bail hearings (or hearings for Petitions for Bail), Promulgation of acquittals or dismissals in criminal cases, Temporary or Permanent Protection Orders under Republic Act No. 9262, Habeas Corpus Petitions, Petition for Writs of Amparo, and similar cases, and election-related cases.
Judges are encouraged to examine the possibility of bail or recognizance for violations of ordinances or appropriate crimes.
3. The litigants, lawyers, prosecutors, and the general public are hereby advised to call the proper court through its hotline, or access it through its email address or Facebook account, if available, so it may be determined if the matter being raised is urgent. If urgent, only then will the Justice or Judge, or the court personnel act on said urgent matter. All calls and messages shall be entertained from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
4. Per Administrative Circular No. 01-2022, the filing periods of any and all pleadings and other court submissions that will fall due this month are EXTENDED until February 1, 2022.
The provisions of earlier issuances which are inconsistent herewith are deemed modified.
For strict compliance.
Manila, Philippines, January 12, 2022.
(SGD.) ALEXANDER G. GESMUNDOChief Justice
Cite This Law
Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas, Supreme Court Memorandum Order No. 10-2022, Jan 12, 2022 (Philippines)
Rising Cases of COVID-19 Infection/Physical Closure of Courts in Select Areas, Supreme Court Memorandum Order No. 10-2022 (Phil. 2022)
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