THE Supreme Court has decided to expand the pilot testing of the use of videoconferencing to address the delay in the resolution of pending cases in various courts nationwide due to the virus outbreak.
Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez has identified 84 court stations from different regions across the country that have been authorized to pilot-test hearings through videoconferencing of all matters pending before them, in both criminal and civil cases.
The SC has authorized the use of videoconferencing in both criminal and civil cases, whether newly filed, or pending, and regardless of the stage of the trial.
“Considering that the entire country has been on different levels of quarantine in the last two months, court action on pending cases before courts, which have not been authorized to conduct hearings through videoconferencing has been delayed. Hence, there is a need to authorize more courts across the country to conduct hearings through videoconferencing to address unacted matters which in the meantime have accumulated,” Marquez said in his latest Circular 96-2020.
Marquez added SC Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta had approved the expanded pilot testing of videoconferencing in the following areas: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; Bauang, La Union; San Fernando City, La Union; Lingayen, Pangasinan; Urdaneta City, Pangasinan (Region 1); Aparri, Cagayan; Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Lagawe, Ifugao; Cauayan, Isabela; Echague, Isabela; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (Region 2); Malolos City, Bulacan; San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Gapan City, Nueva Ecija; Macabebe, Pampanga; Paniqui, Tarlac; Tarlac City, Tarlac; Iba, Zambales (Region 3); Batangas City, Batangas; Lipa City, Batangas; Bacoor City, Cavite; Dasmariñas City, Cavite; Biñan City, Laguna; Cabuyao, Laguna; San Pedro, Laguna; Sta. Rosa, Laguna; Catanauan, Quezon; Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro; Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro; Roxas, Palawan Romblon, Romblon (Region 4A/4B);
Ligao, Albay; Daet, Camarines Norte; Iriga City, Camarines Sur; Libmanan, Camarines Sur; Pili, Camarines Sur; Virac, Catanduanes; Masbate City, Masbate; Gubat, Sorsogon; (Region 5); Roxas City, Capiz; Sipalay, Negros Occidental; Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental; Silay City, Negros Occidental; Barotac Viejo, Iloilo; Culasi-Sebaste, Antique (Region 6);
Carcar City, Cebu; Talisay City, Cebu; Bogo City, Cebu; Naga City, Cebu; Oslob, Cebu; Malabuyoc-Ginatil-Algeria, Cebu; Bais City, Negros Oriental; Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Talibon, Bohol; Talibon-Getafe, Bohol; Loay-Albuquerque-Baclayon, Bohol; Trinidad-San Miguel-Bien Unido, Bohol (Region 7);
Maasin City, Southern. Leyte; Catbalogan, Samar; Gandara, Samar (Region 8); Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental; Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental; Tangub, Misamis Occidental; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur; Valencia, Bukidnon; Mambajao, Camiguin (Region 10); Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; Tagum, Davao del Norte; Panabo, Davao del Norte; Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte; Mati, Davao Oriental ; Davao City, Davao del Sur; Malita, Davao Occidental; Surallah, South Cotabato; Bislig, Surigao del Sur (Region 11); Cotabato City, Maguindanao; Kabacan, North Cotabato; Isulan, Sultan Kudarat; Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat (Region 12).
Marquez earlier said videoconferencing would be utilize “while there is public health emergency unless extended by the Supreme Court, thereafter.”
He added that videoconferencing will be the “new normal during public health emergency” for the judiciary.
The videoconferencing has long been practiced and adopted during court trial of cases in the technologically advanced countries like the United States to address delays in court proceedings.
The method is described as “the holding of a conference among people at remote locations by means of transmitted audio and video signals.”
Through these conferences, “individuals meet one another in a real-time virtual manner “as if they were in the same room” without the hassle and expense of traveling.”
Courts in the National Capital Region and several other court stations in the country have previously been authorized to pilot test videoconferencing.