Work in all courts in Luzon -- including the Supreme Court (SC), Court of Appeals (CA) in Manila, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) -- are suspended on Thursday, Oct. 24.
The work suspension was ordered in line with the announcement by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on the suspension of work in government offices and classes in both public and private schools in Luzon on Oct. 24.
For the SC, the suspension of work – authorized by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo – was ordered via a memorandum issued by Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Administrative Officer Maria Carina a. Matammu Cunanan.
The Presiding Justices of the CA, Sandiganbayan, and CTA were expected to issue the memoranda on work suspension.
For the trial courts in Luzon – regional trial courts, municipal trial courts, municipal circuit trial courts, and metropolitan trial courts – the work suspension was ordered in a memorandum issued by Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva as authorized by Chief Justice Gesmundo.
Suspension of work in Luzon courts is “due to the forecasted continuous heavy rainfall brought about by tropical storm ‘Kristine.’”
At the SC, some employees were required to work in the Docket-Receiving Section of the Judicial Records Office and Cash Collection and Disbursement Division, and Financial Management and Budget Office.
In the trial courts, Villanueva’s memorandum stated: “The courts and offices in Luzon should be accessible to lawyers, court users, and litigants through their contact numbers and/or official email addresses to, as far as practicable, attend to their urgent concerns. Also, those affected by the said suspension should be duly notified thereof.”
“In judicial regions outside of Luzon that may experience heavy rains and/or floodings on Oct. 24, 2024, the executive judges/presiding judges are reminded to comply with what is provided in OCA Circular No. 353-2023 dated 19 October 2023 when suspending court operations.”