Open for business: SC resumes acceptance of court submissions

The Supreme Court (SC) announced on Monday (May 3) it has begun accepting pleadings, motions and other court submissions.

In a notice dated May 3, SC Clerk of Court Marife Lomibao-Cuevas told the public that “the seven-day extension under previous issuances for the filing and service of pleadings, motions and other court submissions with the Supreme court shall start on May 3, 2021.”

“All offices in the Supreme court shall be open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on May 3, 2021 to May 14, 2021,” she added.

Cuevas explained the notice was issued in connection with Memorandum Order No. 28-2021 dated April 30 which stated that “the Supreme court shall be physically opene effective May 3, 2021.”

The clerk of court reminded that the SC issued last month administrative circulars that declared that “the time for filing and service of pleadings during the period when courts are physically closed is suspended and shall resume seven calendar days counted from the first day of physical reopening of the relevant court.”

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has previously ordered the physical closure of all trial courts in areas under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ) until May 14.

“Considering that the National Capital Region, the provinces of Abra, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Quirino, and Rizal, and Santiago City, Isabela, continue to be under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until 14 May 2021, all first and second level courts, and appelate collegiate courts, and their judicial offices in the said areas shall continue to be physically closed until 14 May 2021,” read the Gesmundo’s administrative circular dated April 30.

“The said courts and judicial offices in other areas under localized Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and MECQ shall likewise be physically closed for the duration of such ECQ or MECQ,” he added.

Previously, Gesmundo issued an administrative circular dated April 14 that ordered the physical closure of courts in areas under ECQ and MECQ until April 30.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)