OCA CIRCULAR NO. 96 – 2020, May 18, 2020

In A.C. 37 – 2020, the Court authorized the pilot-testing of videoconferencing hearings on urgent matters in criminal cases involving Persons Deprived of Liberty during his period of public health emergency in identified court stations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, including the entire National Capital Judicial Region. In A.C. 39 – 2020 and A.C. No. 40 – 2020, the authority to pilot-test videoconferencing hearings was expanded to “ALL matters pending before (the courts), in both criminal and civil cases, whether newly-filed or pending and regardless of the stage of trial.”^[1]

Considering that the entire country has been on different levels of quarantine in the last two (2) 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.

Accordingly, upon approval of Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, the following court stations are herein authorized to pilot-test hearings through videoconferencing of all matters pending before them, in both criminal and civil cases, regardless of the stage of the trial, during this public health emergency:

REGION 1
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Narvacan, Ilocos Sur
Bauang, La Union
San Fernando City, La Union
Lingayen, Pangasinan
Urdaneta City, Pangasinan

REGION 2
Aparri, Cagayan
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
Lagawe, Ifugao
Cauayan, Isabela
Echague, Isabela
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

REGION 3
Baler, Aurora
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

REGIONS 4A / 4B
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 5
Ligao, Albay
Daet, Camarines Norte
Iriga City, Camarines Sur
Libmanan, Camarines Sur
Pili, Camarines Sur
Virac, Catanduanes
Masbate City, Masbate
Gubat, Sorsogon

REGION 6
Roxas City, Capiz
Sipalay, Neg. Occidental
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental
Silay City, Neg. Occ.
Barotac Viejo, Iloilo
Culasi-Sebaste, Antique

REGION 7
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 8
Maasin City, So. Leyte
Catbalogan, Samar
Gandara, Samar

REGION 9
Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

REGION 10
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 11
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 12
Cotabato City, Maguindanao
Kabacan, North Cotabato
Isulan, Sultan Kudarat
Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat

Except on the matters and cases which can be heard through videoconferencing, the provisions of A.C. No. 37 – 2020 shall be applicable to the court stations above. The provisions of A.C. No. 39 – 2020 and A.C. 40 – 2020 shall likewise be applicable to the court stations above, depending on whether the court stations are in areas under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (A.C. No. 39 – 2020) or under General Community Quarantine (A.C. No. 40 – 2020).

FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION.

Makati City, 18 May 2020.