SC uses technology during pandemic
To pave the way for technology to somewhat come into play, Peralta said he issued several administrative circulars to keep the Judiciary functioning even before the start of the lockdown
Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta has cited technology that allowed him and the other members of the Court to discuss important matters amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was ventilated by CJ Peralta when he met reporters online, saying, “While this virulent virus has slowed down or even put to a halt global commerce, every government worldwide unceasingly and tirelessly worked as they struggled to get ahead of this disease.”
He said the Judiciary is no exception but because of the technology he and the other members of the SC managed to discuss pressing matters while strictly observing physical distancing.
Because he is not a techie person, Peralta admitted that he had to catch up and familiarize himself to the on-line meetings and other innovations technology has to offer.
He learned how to use Zoom and he and the other Justices racked their brains to come up with creative and effective schemes to ensure that the wheels of justice will continue grinding without putting at risk the lives of employees, lawyers, and the public.
To pave the way for technology to somewhat come into play, Peralta said he issued several administrative circulars to keep the Judiciary functioning even before the start of the lockdown.
Peralta said all the COVID-related circulars, orders, and issuances have been timely uploaded by the Court’s Public Information Office to the SC website for the information of everyone.
In March, Peralta issued Memorandum Order 25-2020 detailing Guidelines in the workplace as a precautionary measure to avoid the spread of COVID.
He then created a Task Force chaired by the Court Administrator to come up with additional measures to minimize the rising threat of COVID.
Also, the Court had several other issuances to address the health scare in the workplace.
Peralta said that when the government eventually placed the National Capital Region and the whole of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine or ECQ, he issued Administrative Circular 32-2020 ordering the physical closure of all courts nationwide due to the unabated rise of COVID-19.
He said that while the courts were physically closed, judicial service continued as we opened hotlines and published email addresses “where litigants, lawyers, prosecutors, and the general public may reach us.”
For urgent matters, Peralta said he instructed all justices or judge on-duty, together with the skeleton staff, to go to the court to immediately act on them.
“Upon consultation with members of the Court, I issued Administrative Circular 33-2020 allowing the online filing of complaint or information and posting of bail of detention prisoners,” Peralta said.
This enabled the courts to digitally act on the matters, thereby reducing the necessity of the judge, the court staff, lawyers, and litigants to physically travel to their stations.