A Quezon City court has denied the motion filed by former Ozamiz City vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog to postpone her hearing over drug charges over lockdown limitations caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 228 Presiding Judge Mitushealla Manzanero-Casiño denied Parojinog's Urgent Motion to Defer Hearing for lack of merit.

Casiño said in her decision that Parojinog's appeal that she and her counsel have yet to confer in person "is a flimsy excuse."

She added that they cannot suspend hearings on the basis of the COVID-19 pandemic because "there is no definite time when the public health emergency will subside" and that "there is a law, Republic Act No. 8493 (Speedy Trial Act of 1998), which fixes a time limit for trial."

"The entire world is embracing a new normal where communication is done over telephone lines and internet," the order read.

Parojinog argued in her motion that her witnesses, who are in Ozamiz City in Mindanao, are not allowed to travel to Manila for trial due to the country's current travel restrictions, so a postponement of hearing is needed.

However, the court asserted that "the conduct of a VCH (videoconference hearing) in the instant case will even solve the problem of the defense with regard to making travel and lodging arrangements ."

"Contrary to the apprehension of the defense regarding the intermittent internet connection, this court has been conducting VCH since May 2020 and has encountered minor problems with regard to connectivity," the court added as Parojinog also raised her concern about the "frustrating slow" and "spotty internet connection" in the country.

"In fact, there was no instance where a VCH was canceled or stopped midway due to poor internet connection," the court noted.

The court said that it is for the "best interest" of Parojinog's lead counsel, who is a senior citizen more prone to catching COVID-19, to conduct an online hearing.

"Notwithstanding the advantages of a VCH, there is nothing which prohibits this court from conducting in-court hearings in the instant case for the presentation of witnesses other than the accused, in the meantime that she is not allowed to be brought out of the facility where she is currently detained."

The court, however, said that it would allow Parojinog's counsel to be with her at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, where she is detained, once she takes the stand.