Courts nationwide to remain 'physically closed' until April 30
MANILA, Philippines — Courts nationwide will remain closed until April 30 as Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta extended the effectivity of Supreme Court circulars related to COVID-19 until end of the month.
“[A]ll SC COVID-19 circulars and orders will be extended and will remain until the end of the extended [enhanced community quarantine],” SC spokesperson Brian Hosaka told reporters Tuesday.
The circulars include physical closure of courts nationwide and the electronic filing of Information or charge sheet and posting of bail.
President Rodrigo Duterte extended the Luzon-wide lockdown to April 30. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the president approved the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases recommendation for extension.
Nograles explained that the extended lockdown will allow experts to study the effect of the ECQ and increase the health capacity of the country, including testing capacity.
Summer session in Baguio also cancelled
Hosaka also said that the SC has cancelled its annual summer session in Baguio City.
The SC earlier said that tribunal is set to discuss Solicitor General Jose Calida’s quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise on April 14, the start of its summer session in Baguio.
Hosaka confirmed that Peralta issued a memorandum on March 26 announcing the cancellation of SC Baguio City Summer Session in 2020 and setting a special session in Manila on April 15.
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There is also no word yet if the SC will hold a special session on April 15, or if it will be moved to a later date, the spokesman also said. — Kristine Joy Patag
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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