SC suspends work in NCR, Bulacan, Pampanga for ASEAN Summit

FILE: “The CJ (Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno) has suspended work in courts for all courts at the National Capital Judicial Region (including the Supreme Court and third level court (Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals and Court of Tax Appeals) and the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga from November 13-15,” the SC Public Information Office posted on its Twitter account. (Photo: Supreme Court of the Philippines)

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) announced the suspension of work in courts in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan on November 13-15 in connection with the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.

“The CJ (Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno) has suspended work in courts for all courts at the National Capital Judicial Region (including the Supreme Court and third level court (Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals and Court of Tax Appeals) and the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga from November 13-15,” the SC Public Information Office posted on its Twitter account.

The high court tasked the executive judges in the said areas to maintain a skeletal force to receive emergency filings and issuance of urgent reliefs.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared November 13-15 as special non-working holidays in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan to make way for the event.

The declaration was made through Proclamation No. 332 which Duterte signed Monday.

The ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council recommended the suspension of work and classes in view of the activities directly connected with the Philippine hosting of the ASEAN Summit.

The Summit and its related meetings, which will be held in Manila and Clark Field in Pampanga on November 10 to 14, will be attended by ASEAN heads of state and leaders from ASEAN Dialogue Partners — Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

Earlier, Malacañang confirmed the attendance of US President Donald Trump in the Summit, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to skip the event.

The ASEAN Summit in November will be the final leg of the semi-annual event after the country’s successful hosting of the Summit in April that was held in Manila.