[See Summary/Discussion; Note that Memorandum Circular No. 20-12, cited in the circular below, has been amended by Memorandum Circular No. 20-31.]
[Update: On 3 July 2020, the President signed Republic Act No. 11479, otherwise known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Earlier this year, the Senate passed Senate Bill No. 1083, a proposed law to prevent, prohibit and penalize terrorism, and repeal Republic Act No. 9372, otherwise known as the “Human Security Act of 2007.” The provisions of SB 1083 were adopted in House Bill No. 6875, certified as urgent by the President on 1 June 2020. On 3 June 2020, the House of Representatives approved HB 6875 on third and final reading. The enrolled bill was transmitted to and received by Malacanang on 9 June 2020. The salient points of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 are discussed below.]
Continue readingFrom day one of the quarantine, we have always maintained that it is way much better to reduce the quarantine-related rules in black and white to avoid confusion. The general guidelines are set forth in the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) revised Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines. There are, however, a lot of gray areas that caused, and will continue to cause, confusion.
Continue readingVideoconferencing hearings will continue in General Community Quarantine (GCQ) areas, the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office (PIO) announced on 31 May 2020. The government has lifted the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) in all areas in the Philippines, relaxing the quarantine to either GCQ or Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
Continue reading[No more buffet or self-service when you visit your favorite restaurant or fastfood chain. And you are required to fill up a medical checklist. On 31 May 2020, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released the Guidelines on Minimum Health Protocol for Dine-in Restaurants and Fastfood Establishments. Dine-in is allowed at 50% capacity during the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) period. The full text of the guidelines is reproduced below.]
Continue reading[The full text is reproduced to illustrate the reality that travel passes are still generally required by each local government, except for work in permitted establishments wherein the company ID is sufficient (see Sec. 3), although complications may arise because Sec. 15 requires of “Company ID, Certificate of Employment, Business Permit, and work schedule”. There is a list of permitted/ prohibited establishments (Secs. 9 and 10), subject to specific requirements such as a Business Monitoring Form (see process of submission and penalties in Sec. 7). Note the rules on mass gatherings (Sec. 14) and intrazonal and interzonal travel (Sec. 15). Public transportation is allowed (Sec. 5), subject to a number coding scheme (Sec. 21). Inter-island travel by ship is allowed (Sec. 6), subject to strict guidelines, and not to/from ECQ areas.]
Continue readingThe Financial Rehabilitation Rules of Procedure (2013), referred to as the “FR Rules,” covers cross-border insolvency proceedings pursuant to the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act (FRIA) of 2010. These provisions are likewise made applicable in proceedings under the Financial Liquidation and Suspension of Payments Rules of Procedure for Insolvent Debtors (2015), referred to as the “FLSP Rules”.
Continue readingCommunity quarantine classifications change quickly, so it is helpful to present the information per region. The latest issuance, mostly based on the Resolutions of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), are indicated. Community quarantine classifications: Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), General Community Quarantine (GCQ), Modified General Community Quarantine (GCQ), and New Normal/No Community Quarantine. See revised Omnibus Guidelines. Latest issuance: IATF Resolution No. 41 dated 29 May 2020.
Continue readingOn 22 January 2019, the Supreme Court resolved to promulgate the 2019 Supreme Court Revised Rule on Children in Conflict with the Law (A.M. No. 02-1-18-SC). This is a primer on or introduction to the Revised Rule on Children in Conflict with the Law or CICL.
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