Sandiganbayan (File photo) MANILA - The Sandiganbayan will resume full in-court hearings on March 1 to enable the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) to fully abide by health and safety protocols against Covid-19. Administrative Order No. 018-2022, signed by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang on February 15, granted a request by the OMB for a "transition period" until February 28. Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval of the OMB requested for the deferment, pointing out that they are still in the process of procuring antigen kits to be regularly used to test all employees, including prosecutors. OMB allows only 50 percent of its workforce to physically report for work but in shifts. The OMB also said some areas in the country are still under strict alert levels so witnesses may have difficulties in travelling to the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City. Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo City, Iloilo province, South Cotabato, and Zamboanga City are still under Alert Level
MANILA - The Sandiganbayan has implemented adjustments in its operations amid the improved coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) situation in the National Capital Region (NCR). In Administrative Order No. 017-2022 dated February 16 and released Thursday, Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said the adjusted work arrangements will take effect until further notice. Under the guidelines, the anti-graft court shall be physically open to all users while all offices and chambers shall operate with at least 80 percent onsite capacity from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chambers and offices of the Sandiganbayan shall observe the necessary minimum health standards and social distancing while justices, officials, and employees are ordered to truthfully report their health status to the Medical Section and their respective head of office. Likewise, all justices, officials, and employees who exhibit flu-like symptoms shall no longer report to the office physically and should inform and upd
CHIEF Justice (CJ) Alexander Gesmundo on Tuesday finally presided over his first in-person en banc session with 13 other fellow justices since his appointment in April 2021 in what could be an indication to the return to normalcy of the judiciary since the pandemic broke out in March 2020. Before the…
Offices in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals will be operational beginning tomorrow, but with only 50 percent of their employees reporting for on-site work.