Old Ombudsman Building in Manila under lockdown starting June 15

By Minka Klaudia Tiangco All Regional Trial Court (RTC) and Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Manila branches, as well as the Office of the Clerk of Court, at the Old Ombudsman Building will be placed under lockdown from Monday, June 15 to Monday, June 29. During this period, no one will be allowed to enter or leave the premises, according to a June 14 memorandum issued by Executive Judge Carissa Anne Manook-Frondozo. However, Manook-Frondozo said that they will still continue working via digital platforms. Courts may conduct teleconference hearings and accept pleadings filed electronically during the lockdown period. All office hotlines and emails will still be strictly monitored to address urgent concerns. All employees of the affected branches were also asked to undergo a 14-day self quarantine. "The Office reiterates its directive to all employees of the branches affected to undergo self-quarantine for fourteen (14) days and to minimize or avoid contact with the public during the said period and to conduct contact tracing of all the persons they have come in contact with at the court premises for the last two (2) weeks," the memorandum read. The Manila City government conducted disinfection and sanitation operations in the building on Monday, the executive judge said.