ACTING Chief Justice Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Wednesday ordered the suspension of work in all courts nationwide on Thursday, September 21, after Malacañang issued Proclamation 319.
Proclamation 319 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 19 has suspended work nationwide for all agencies of the executive branch, including local government units.
According to Carpio's order, the SC has found it prudent to declare a work suspension as "70 percent" of courts nationwide are housed in structures owned by local government units.
Duterte declared September 21 as the National Day of Protest, the same day the nation commemorates the anniversary of martial law.
Duterte himself urged protesters to take to streets their grievances to the government but urged as well them to not commit a crime.
Malacañang clarified that September 21 is not a special non-working holiday but private companies and schools can, under their discretion, declare work suspension if they find it deem necessary. (SunStar Philippines)