Work-from-home at SC, CA, CTA, Sandiganbayan, Manila trial courts on Nov. 17 and 18
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo allowed a work-from-home for officials and personnel of the Supreme Court (SC), Court of Appeals (CA) in Manila, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), and trial courts in Manila on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 17 and 18.
The offices of the SC and the CA are in Manila, while those of the Sandiganbayan and the CTA are in Quezon City.
The work-from-home arrangement was adopted due to the expected heavy traffic that will be generated by the three-day rally of the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and the United People’s Initiative (UPI). The rally started on Sunday, Nov. 16.
However, skeletal workforce must be maintained in the Docket-Receiving Section, Judicial Records Office, Cash Collection and Disbursement Division, Fiscal Management, and Budget Office.
In the case of the Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court said the work-from-home arrangement was adopted “due to the anticipated traffic congestion on Commonwealth Avenue (in Quezon City) in view of the three-day rally of the Iglesia Ni Cristo on November 16, 17 and 18, 2025, particularly around the INC Central Temple where rally participants are expected to converge.”
But the Sandiganbayan said: “No scheduled hearings shall be cancelled by reason of the said work arrangement. Considering that onsite services need to be rendered by certain units of the Court, a skeletal workforce shall be maintained at the offices of the Executive Clerk of Court IV, Judicial Records Division, Security and Sheriff Services Division and Cashier Section.”
For the CTA which has offices on Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, the tax court also said the work-from-home is for “the anticipated heavy traffic in the vicinity of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) due to the simultaneous rallies organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and the United People's Initiative (UPI)” on Nov. 17 and 18.
It also said that “most INC rally participants are expected to proceed from the INC Central on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, to Rizal Park in Manila, reporting for work on said dates shall follow an alternative work arrangement (work-from-home), with the permission of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.”
It added that a skeleton workforce should be maintained onsite in the Offices of the Division Clerks of Court; Docketing-Receiving Section, Judicial Records Division Cash Division.