By Rey Panaligan Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta has been tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta
(SC PIO / MANILA BULLETIN) He took the virus test after travelling to the Netherlands early this month and later showed symptoms of the disease. A statement issued by the Supreme Court’s (SC’s) public information office (PIO) stated that “Chief Justice Peralta reassured the officials and employees of the Judiciary, as well as the general public, that he is continuing his work from home and is closely monitoring the situation of the courts throughout the country.” Earlier, the SC had created a COVID-19 Task Force to monitor the spread of the disease that may affect court officials and employees nationwide. The SC had also limited work hours in the courts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until April 15 with only a skeletal force manning the courts nationwide. Officials and employees not included in the skeletal force need not report for work. But the SC directed all justices and trial court judges to be ready anytime to act on urgent cases, particularly those related to the enhanced community quarantine. The PIO’s statement said Peralta and members of the Philippine delegation (whose names the PIO did not mention) went on a trip to the Netherlands from March 1 to 7 and attended “The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) General Affairs and Policy Meeting, witnessed the deposit of the instrument of accession to the HCCH Service Convention, and received a briefing from HCCH officials on conventions of interest to the Court.” The statement added that Peralta “did not get tested upon arrival as he showed no symptoms. “However, when Chief Justice Peralta showed symptoms such as persistent coughing, he then went on self-quarantine in his residence, and was advised by doctors to be tested for the COVID-19, considering also the fact that he traveled to a COVID-19-infected country as per the guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH),” it said.