Virus cleanup forces SC to shelve hearing

The Supreme Court has cancelled the continuation of the oral arguments on the 37 petitions seeking to invalidate the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 slated on Tuesday to pave the way for a thorough disinfection of its compound amid an alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The cancellation was a result of a memorandum issued by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta that extended the suspension of work in all the Court’s offices along Padre Faura in Manila until March 16.

“More time is needed to complete and accomplish a more thorough disinfection of the Supreme Court offices in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its new variant,” Peralta explained.

Last week, the SC announced a four-day work suspension from March 11 to 14 to give way to a massive disinfection and sanitation of its offices.

The cleanup would include different buildings and offices inside the SC compound.

“After consultation with the other Justices and Chiefs of offices, a continuation of the disinfection, cleaning, and sanitation of the different buildings and offices of the Supreme Court is hereby ordered to be undertaken to minimize the possible spread of the infection,” the memorandum stated.

Peralta has given the chairperson or head of certain committees whether to proceed with previously scheduled meetings.

“Court sessions shall proceed via videoconferencing, but the Oral Arguments scheduled on Tuesday, March 16, 2021… is suspended,” the memorandum said.

Meanwhile, on-duty personnel of the Medical and Dental Services (skeleton force), Security and Maintenance Division, Office of the Administrative-Services were allowed to report for work on March 15 to 16.

From March 17 to 19, the SC said all officers are required to maintain a skeleton force of 50 percent to maintain physical distancing of at least six feet.

It would be the third time that the Court cancelled the oral arguments on the ATA or Republic Act 11479. The first was on February 23, 2021 after some magistrates also decided to go on quarantine and the second time was on March 8, also for the same reason.