Supreme Court (SC)
(MANILA BULLETIN)
In Administrative Circular No. 22-2021, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo said that all physically closed courts may still be reached by the public through the judiciary hotlines and email addresses posted in the SC website – sc.judiciary.gov.ph.
Areas under MECQ declared by the national government are the National Capital Region (NCR), the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Abra and Quirino, and Santiago City in Isabela.
There are also areas where local government units (LGUs) imposed their localized ECQ and MECQ.
But the SC said that essential judicial offices in all physically closed courts “shall maintain the necessary skeleton staff to attend to all urgent matters.”
Department of Justice (DoJ) (MANILA BULLETIN)
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Tuesday, April 13, said that two weeks ago the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the vaccination of prosecutors of the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service (NPS).
“The inclusion of the prosecutors in the vaccine priority list was initiated through a letter of the regional prosecutors to the IATF,” Guevarra said.
“When the matter was reported during the IATF meeting, the DOJ vigorously supported the request for inclusion of the prosecutors, and the same was thereupon approved,” he added.
Guevarra said DOJ prosecutors have been classified as A4 or frontline personnel in the essential sector including uniformed personnel.
Courts in NCR+ still physically closed until April 18 — SC – Manila Bulletin mb.com.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mb.com.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
But Guevarra said the complaints have been forwarded to the Supreme Court (SC) since TFAC is aware of the court’s Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) which has exclusive jurisdiction.
When asked if some of the complaints involved justices and judges, Guevarra said:
“The last time I checked, it was less than five (complaints) and involved low-ranking court personnel only.
“I suppose people generally know where to complain if the persons involved are judges or justices.”
Last year, the SC activated its JIB, which, together with the Corruption Prevention and Investigation Office (CPIO), was created in 2018 to run after the so-called misfits in the judiciary.