SC reopens on skeleton force
OFFICES in the Supreme Court reopened on Monday as the quarantine status of the National Capital Region (NCR) was downgraded to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
But in a memorandum order, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said that these SC offices shall maintain a skeleton workforce as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country.
“Effective August 23, 2021 and until further notice, the offices in the Supreme Court shall be physically opened. However, considering the still alarming number of reported COVID-19 infections, there still a necessity to maintain a reduced workforce in the various offices of the Supreme Court, ” read Memorandum Order No. 72-2021.
The SC extended its previous order requiring the filing of pleadings and other documents through online, registered mail or via accredited private couriers.
“.. For exceptionally urgent matters, personal filing of the pleadings or submission may be done through the (SC’s) Docket Receiving Section of the Judicial Records Office, ” the memorandum said.
But the order stated that personal filing may be done “only after the concerned personnel of the Docket Receiving Section shall have properly communicated and cleared the matter with the proper office and have received official confirmation that the matter covered by the pleading or submission being personally filed is indeed urgent.”
