Sandiganbayan divisions suspend hearings because there are no prosecutors
By Czarina Nicole Ong-Ki
Several divisions of the Sandiganbayan have suspended their scheduled hearings on Thursday and Friday to coincide with the suspension of work issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Sandiganbayan (MANILA BULLETIN)
Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang said in a message that the suspension is "not really" related to the COVID-19 scare that has gripped the nation. Rather, it is simply because there are no prosecutors in attendance to carry out the hearings.
She explained that the Third Division, which she heads, has taken the initiative to cancel its hearings and she believes other divisions followed suit.
"The Ombudsman issued a memorandum declaring no work today and tomorrow in their office to give way to disinfecting their building and directing their officials and employees to undergo home quarantine for the said period," she said. "Wala lang (There are just no) prosecutors because of the Ombudsman memo."
However, she did note that the anti-graft court's Second Division was able to conduct a hearing on Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it will suspend work in order to combat the COVID-19 threat.
"As a precautionary measure, the Office of the Ombudsman will be suspending work on 12 and 13 March 2020 in order to sanitize our work stations and public spaces to ensure the health of all concerned," their announcement read.
The Ombudsman offices in Quezon City, Cebu City, Tacloban City, Iloilo City, Davao City, and Cagayan de Oro will all be closed on Thursday and Friday. Normal operations will resume on Monday (March 16).
Sandiganbayan (MANILA BULLETIN)
Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang said in a message that the suspension is "not really" related to the COVID-19 scare that has gripped the nation. Rather, it is simply because there are no prosecutors in attendance to carry out the hearings.
She explained that the Third Division, which she heads, has taken the initiative to cancel its hearings and she believes other divisions followed suit.
"The Ombudsman issued a memorandum declaring no work today and tomorrow in their office to give way to disinfecting their building and directing their officials and employees to undergo home quarantine for the said period," she said. "Wala lang (There are just no) prosecutors because of the Ombudsman memo."
However, she did note that the anti-graft court's Second Division was able to conduct a hearing on Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it will suspend work in order to combat the COVID-19 threat.
"As a precautionary measure, the Office of the Ombudsman will be suspending work on 12 and 13 March 2020 in order to sanitize our work stations and public spaces to ensure the health of all concerned," their announcement read.
The Ombudsman offices in Quezon City, Cebu City, Tacloban City, Iloilo City, Davao City, and Cagayan de Oro will all be closed on Thursday and Friday. Normal operations will resume on Monday (March 16).