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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Judges to get monthly internet allowance to assure success of online hearings – SC

Judges to get monthly internet allowance to assure success of online hearings – SC

Published Apr 17, 2021 02:59 pm

Technical and internet connection problems prompted the Supreme Court (SC) to give trial court judges and their central offices of the clerks of court nationwide P5,000 monthly communications allowance starting May 1.

(PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN)

The allowance would be used to procure internet service to assure a 100 per cent success in the conduct of video conferencing hearings for swift resolution of civil and criminal cases amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez said.

In a circular dated April 16, 2021, Marquez said the monthly allowance was approved by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo “for the procurement of internet service, without need of liquidation.”

The circular stated that “the Judges and the Clerks of Court of the Office of the Clerk of Court shall ensure that the internet service procured has sufficient bandwidth to enable them to conduct video conferencing hearings and electronically receive and transmit court documents."

In a report to Gesmundo, Marquez said that from May 5, 2020 to April 9, 2021, a total of 234,540 video conferencing hearings were conducted with an 87.75 percent success rate.

The remaining 12.25 per cent of the hearings were not successful due to technical and internet connection problems, SC Spokesperson Brian Keith H. Hosaka explained.

Since May last year, a total of 137,465 deprived of liberty (PDLs), including children in conflict with the law (CICLs), have been released from jail. Of those released, a total of 53,297 were freed through hearings via video conferencing, Marquez said.

The online hearings were adopted last year in a move by the SC to shield judges, court personnel, lawyers, and litigants from COVID-19 infections.

Also enforced by the SC was the online filing of complaints, pleadings, and court-required documents.

All courts in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ) are physically closed until April 30.

Video conferencing is being utilized to assure the continuous operations of the courts in the adjudication of cases.

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