In order to abate the spread of Covid-19 cases across the country, the Supreme Court, on 16 March 2020, issued Administrative Circular No. 31-2020 (hereafter “A.C. 31-2020”), ordering the drastic reduction of court operations from 16 March 2020 to 15 April 2020.
Addressed to all litigants, justices, judges and personnel of the judiciary, and members of the bar, the specific guidelines of such drastic reduction consist of the following:
First, courts of all levels are required to maintain minimal personnel who will be in court or on stand-by to attend to urgent matters. Along with their respective skeletal staff, the composition per court is: (a) for collegiate courts, majority of the justices therein; (b) for multi-sala stations of first and second level courts, one (1) or two (2) judges, to be determined by the concerned Executive Judge; and (c) for single-sala stations, the judge thereof. Courts shall operate only between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Notably, night court operations are completely suspended.
Second, only urgent matters and cases, such as payments of salaries in the Judiciary, release of the 2019 Bar Examination results, medical services, and court security, may be physically carried out in courts, court offices, divisions, sections, and units. All other kinds of work that may be performed at home shall proceed as such. Notably, justices and judges are expected to draft decisions and orders within their residences, which decisions and orders shall be promulgated and issued once the courts are fully operational.
Third, hearings nationwide are suspended, save for urgent matters such as, but not limited to, petitions, motions, and pleadings in relation to bail, habeas corpus, promulgation of judgments of acquittals, reliefs for those arrested and detained during the period of reduced court operations, and other actions related to local or national measures to address the declared health emergency.
Fourth, the deadline for court submissions, the filing of which fall due from 15 March 2020 until 15 April 2020, is extended for thirty (30) days from 16 April 2020. But those who opt to file within the original reglementary period may do so through fax or electronic means.
Fifth, court actions which are not urgent, such as, but not limited to, promulgations of decisions in civil cases, executions of judgments, implementation of other writs, services of summons, auction sales in extrajudicial foreclosures, solemnizations of marriages, are suspended and will be rescheduled. Court actions with prescribed periods shall also be extended for thirty (30) days from 16 April 2020.
Sixth, official meetings, such as those of the bids and awards committees, roundtable discussions, focus group discussions, seminars, trainings, conventions, and functions shall be deferred, except for those called and authorized by the Chief Justice or the Judiciary Task Force on Covid-19.
In concluding, A.C. 31-2020 emphasizes that neither the Constitution nor the laws are suspended, and the courts are not shutting down. Just that, in order to protect the health and safety of the Judiciary’s personnel while at the same time attending to urgent cases affecting life and liberty, court operations must be adjusted.