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SC to judges in GCQ, MGCQ areas: Avoid personal appearance of litigants

Philippines | National

SC to judges in GCQ, MGCQ areas: Avoid personal appearance of litigants

By Rey G. Panaligan

Supreme Court (SC)

The Supreme Court (SC) reminded trial court judges in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ to refrain from requiring litigants to appear personally in court.

Personal appearance would be allowed only in cases where the physical presence of a party or a witness is required, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez said in his circular issued on Wednesday, Sept. 8.

Also, on instruction by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Marquez reiterated that all courts in the National Capital Region (NCR) which has been reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until Sept. 15 are still physically closed, except the Supreme Court (SC) which maintains a skeletal force of at least 15 per cent of the total work force.

Online proceedings via video conferencing should be implemented in physically closed courts and even in areas where courts are open to the public, Marquez said.

Online filing of pleadings and court-required documents is allowed. At the SC, the policy of “no personal filing” of pleadings and documents is strictly implemented.

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