Manila: The Supreme Court (SC) announced on Friday that it has approved uniform guidelines governing the suspension of work and court operations in Regional Trial Courts (RTCs). These guidelines aim to establish clear procedures for handling disruptions caused by natural calamities, transport strikes, utility service interruptions, holidays, and other similar situations.
According to Philippines News Agency, the guidelines, ratified by the SC en Banc on October 28, allow for a limited delegation of authority from the Chief Justice to the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), the Office of the Regional Court Manager (ORCM), and Executive Judges. This delegation is intended to ensure uniformity and consistency across all trial courts.
In anticipation of typhoons or heavy rainfall, the ORCM is authorized to suspend work and court operations for up to three consecutive days, relying on advisories, weather forecasts, and the area's susceptibility to flooding or landslides. In unforeseen calamities like earthquakes or fires, Executive Judges can declare suspensions for one day and must report to the ORCM within the same timeframe.
The report should detail the rationale behind the suspension, the status of court personnel and facilities, and any need for an extension. The ORCM has the authority to extend suspensions for an additional two days if necessary. Any suspension exceeding three days requires Court Administrator approval.
In the event of transport strikes or large rallies, the Executive Judge must inform the ORCM within a day. The ORCM can then decide on a suspension for up to three days, factoring in government advisories and the event's scale and impact. For abrupt strikes or rallies, Executive Judges may suspend work immediately and submit a report for potential extension.
For unexpected electricity outages, the Executive Judge may suspend work if advised by the provider or local government that power restoration will exceed two hours, or if power remains out without advisories. The need for an extension can be communicated to the ORCM, which can extend suspensions for up to two additional days.
Regarding holidays, permanent local non-working holidays are announced by the ORCM a week prior, while temporary holidays require Executive Judges to inform the ORCM promptly upon the President's declaration. All work suspensions are subject to review by the Court Administrator, who can overturn decisions.
Executive Judges must maintain a skeleton workforce to manage urgent matters like bail applications and release orders. Prompt notifications to involved parties, law enforcement, and the public are mandatory, and the SC Communications Office must be informed immediately via official email.
The SC emphasized that work suspensions should be executed judiciously, warning that any abuse of authority could lead to administrative consequences.
