NOW that Bacolod is under Alert Level 3 in terms of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) risk transmission, the regional and municipal trial circuit courts in the city were temporarily closed effective Thursday, January 13.
In a supplemental memorandum order issued by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, he said the closure is in view of the January 12 resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force approving the escalation of several other provinces, highly-urbanized cities, and independent component cities.
In Bacolod City alone, operations of seven municipal trial circuit courts and 40 regional trial courts at the Hall of Justice in Bacolod City are temporarily halted.
Those in the provinces of Aklan, Antique and Capiz in Western Visayas are also ordered suspended.
With the temporary closure of the courts, presiding judge Remedios Salazar-Fernando of the court of appeals is also authorized to issue appropriate office orders for the Cebu and Cagayan De Oro City stations.
Court Administrator Midas Marquez is also authorized to issue appropriate circulars to address varying urgent concerns of the executive judges and presiding judges of the first and second-level courts covered by the DOJ memorandum.