A Cagayan de Oro City Regional Trial Court has been closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
The Supreme Court Office of the Court Administrator granted the request of Cagayan de Oro City RTC Branch 37 Judge Corazon Gaite-Llanderal to temporarily close her office from Dec. 9 to 22 or once the result of the COVID-19 test of the court staff has been released.
In a memorandum addressed to the judge, Deputy Court Administrator Leo Madrazo told the magistrate that during the period, “court employees are on work from home arrangement.”
Madrazo instructed that the court’s employees “should not leave their residences so as not to be infected from other sources.”
“Imposition of disciplinary actions on erring employees is advised,” the deputy court administrator told Llanderal.
The OCA granted the temporary closure of the RTC after the magistrate informed the OCA that one of the court’s staff tested positive for COVID-19.
“Court hearings shall not be canceled, but shall be done via videoconferencing from your residence for the said time,” Madrazo also instructed the judge.
“Strict observance of the relevant provisions on the use of videoconferencing technology and the significant provisions on the Rules on Electronic Evidence,” he added.
Once the RTC re-opens, Madrazo also advised to “schedule court disinifection preferably on weekends to avoid disruption of work.” (Jeffrey Damicog)
