Supreme Court (SC) Due to the influx of cases involving cybercrime, competition, and intellectual property, the Supreme Court has designated 77 more branches of the regional trial courts (RTCs) to act as special commercial courts (SCCs). With 77 more designated RTCs, there are now 147 SCCs spre
Supreme Court All judiciary officials and employees, even justices and judges, have been allowed “special privileged leave” during their vaccinations against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This means that all of them will have a two-day leave of absence which would not be deducted from the
Published May 15, 2021, 7:46 AM
Supreme Court
Starting May 31, the Supreme Court (SC) will impose increased fines as part of penalties for judiciary officials and employees who will be found guilty of administrative offenses.
In a resolution, the SC said the order was intended “to harmonize the fine imposed with the period of suspension from office and considering the depreciation of the value of the Philippine peso….”
Thus, for the penalty of suspension from office without salary and other benefits for more than three months but not exceeding six months or fine, the administratively guilty official or employee will be fined more than P100,000 but not exceeding P200,000. The current fine for the penalty is more than P20,000 but not exceeding P40,000.
Published May 7, 2021, 11:49 AM
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court (SC) has moved to July 1 the implementation of online hearings via video conferencing for testimonies of Filipinos abroad, particularly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), whose appearance is required by the courts.
In a May 5, 2021 circular issued by Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, the SC said the extension was requested by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. and approved by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.
The online testimonies of Filipinos abroad would have been implemented last April 1, but Locsin told the SC that personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) need more training on video conferencing.
Published May 2, 2021, 11:15 AM
Philippine Women Judges Association, Inc.
The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the members of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA) to attend the three-day online biennial conference of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) starting May 7.
The 15
th conference of the IAWJ will be hosted by the New Zealand Association of Women Judges. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Diversity.”
In a circular, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez said the attendance of PWJA members on May 7 will be on official time “provided that their respective court calendars are properly managed and the parties are duly notified of any cancelled hearing.”