SC approves interim rules for Sandiganbayan remote hearings

FILE: Facade of Supreme Court of the Philippines (PNA photo)

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has approved interim rules for the conduct of remote hearings for the Sandiganbayan amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“After reviewing the proposed guidelines for Sandiganbayan remote hearings, the Court resolves to approve with revisions the interim guidelines,” the SC said in Resolution AM 20-06-05 SB dated July 14 and released on Thursday.

The rules will take effect 10 days after the publication of its approved version.

Under the interim rules, the anti-graft court may conduct a full remote hearing through videoconference where none of the participants is in court or a partial remote hearing where at least one of the justices and some participants are in court.

The guidelines also provide that in the meantime, the hearings will be using the SC’s Philippine Judiciary 360 platform.

All participants must be within Philippine territory during the hearings and all locations shall be considered as an extension of the courtroom during the proceedings

Participants are likewise ordered to observe proper decorum during the remote hearings.