Regional Trial Court-Office of the Clerk of Court Guimbal, Iloilo

09/03/2026

NOTICE TO THE PUBLICE

In view Memorandum Circular No. 02-2026 (RE: Flexible Work Arrangements and Energy Conservation Measures)

Until further notice.

For your Concern in RTC-branch 67 you may reach through Land Line No. (033) 5045-932 or through official email address: [email protected]

For your Concern in RTC-branch 72 you may reach through Mobile No. 0961-528-2452 or through official email address: [email protected]

The Judiciary adopts flexible work arrangements and energy conservation measures starting March 9, 2026 in Memorandum Circular No. 02 - 2026 issued by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.

In the Memo, the (SC) observes a four-day on-site and one-day work-from-home (WFH) work arrangement, citing Friday as the generally observed WFH day and provided that at least 25% of the employees in each office or division shall report on-site every Friday, as determined by the head of office or division, to ensure continuity of operations.

The Office of the Chief Justice, the Office of the Senior Associate Justice, the Offices of the Associate Justices, the Cash Collection and Disbursement Division of the Fiscal Management and Budget Office, the Docket-Receiving Section of the Judicial Records Office, the Management Information Systems Office (MISO) with respect to its essential staff, and the Office of the Judiciary Marshals are excluded from this work arrangement, and shall maintain the regular work arrangements.

The Court of Appeals (CA) shall observe the same work arrangements prescribed for the SC, provided that on Fridays, at least 25% of the employees in each office or division shall report on-site, and, at least, three Justices comprising one division, on a rotation basis, shall be available to act on urgent matters, including petitions for extraordinary writs and petitions and motions in connection with Republic Act No. 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act, as amended.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals shall continue to observe a full five-day on-site workweek, without special work arrangement.

The First- and Second- Level Courts shall likewise observe a four-day on-site and one-day WFH arrangement.

In single-sala courts, Presiding Judges may adopt either of the following on-site work schedules: (1) on-site work from Monday to Thursday, with Friday designated as the WFH day, or (2) on-site work from Tuesday to Friday, with Monday designated as the WFH day; Provided that pairing courts shall not be on WFH schedule on the same day.

In multiple-sala courts, the four-day on-site and one-day WFH arrangement shall be implemented alternately. Within the same week, odd-numbered branches shall initially report on-site from Monday to Thursday, with Friday designated as the WFH day, while even-numbered branches shall report on-site from Tuesday to Friday, with Monday designated as the WFH day. In the following week, the schedules shall be reversed (i.e., the odd-numbered branches shall report on-site from Tuesday to Friday, with Monday as the WFH day, while the even-numbered branches shall report on-site from Monday to Thursday, with Friday as the WFH day.) This alternating schedule shall continue every week until the four-day workweek arrangement is lifted.

The flexible work arrangements prescribed in Memorandum Circular No. 02 - 2026 shall commence on March 9, 2026, and shall remain in force until modified or lifted by the SC.

Read the full text of Memorandum Circular No. 02 - 2026 at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=161689

16/02/2026

On this occasion, we honor the birthday of Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez. Happy birthday, Your Honor.

Learn more about Justice Marquez, the 192nd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/justice-jose-midas-p-marquez/

13/02/2026

WATCH: How to create an account through the Philippine Judiciary Platform (PJP).eCourt PH can be accessed through the PJP at https://portal.judiciary.gov.ph/...

12/02/2026

06/02/2026

Scan the QR Code to Join...

27/01/2026

How can a person deprived of liberty reclaim his life after detention?

Dr. Raymund Narag of the School of Justice and Public Safety in Southern Illinois University, and Head Consultant of the Prisoners’ Enhancement and Support Organization Inc. (PRESO) discusses his personal experience while talking about jail and prison decongestion, justice reform, and the importance of timely and humane intervention in Episode 102: Journey of Justice: Surviving Detention, Advocating Decongestion.

How do jail and prison congestion, prolonged detention, and case delays affect not just conditions inside jails, but the possibility of justice itself?

This week's podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Facebook, and the website.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1DsLKd4Mk0x849VqIQvFOT

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/episode-102-journey-of-justice-surviving-detention/id1852172756?i=1000746325888

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4ofNER1xNk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1240689741279666

SC website: http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/podcasts/

19/01/2026

05/01/2026

23/12/2025

The has affirmed the murder conviction of three police officers for the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City in 2017.

In a Decision written by Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, the SC's Second Division found police officers Arnel Oares (Oares), Jeremias Pereda (Pereda), and Jerwin Cruz (Cruz) guilty of murder. They were sentenced to 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘢, or up to 40 years in prison, and ordered to pay Kian's family PHP 275,000 in damages.

The SC, however, changed the penalty imposed by the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals by removing the phrase "without eligibility for parole." This applies only when there are circumstances that justify the death penalty, which were not present in this case.

On the evening of August 16, 2017, witnesses saw the officers stop and frisk Kian in Baesa, Caloocan City. After allegedly finding suspected drugs, the officers punched him as he cried and begged to be allowed to go home because he had an exam the next day.

The officers then forced Kian to hold a towel covering what appeared to be a gun and made him stand with his shirt raised to cover his head. Witnesses heard one officer ask whether they should take Kian to the police station, to which the others replied, "𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘰."

The officers dragged Kian toward a dark area near a river. Moments later, Kian was shot multiple times by Oares and Pereda, while Cruz stood guard.

The trial court and the Court of Appeals convicted the officers of murder and imposed the penalty of 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘢 without eligibility for parole.

The SC affirmed the conviction, ruling that all the elements of murder as defined under Article 248 of the 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦 were present.

In this case, Oares admitted to shooting Kian. Witnesses and forensic evidence confirmed that the officers were responsible for the killing. An examination of Kian's body showed five gunshot wounds, two of which were to the head.

The SC held that the killing involved treachery. A medico-legal officer testified that Kian was likely sitting or kneeling when he was shot, based on the gunshot wounds. The bullets entered from the side and back of his head, showing that he likely did not see his attackers and was unable to defend himself.

The SC also found that the officers deliberately took Kian to a secluded location and placed him in a helpless position, enabling them to kill him with impunity and ensuring the ex*****on of the crime.

Dismissing Oares’ claim that he was merely performing his duties, the SC stressed that "the killing of a minor could not be considered standard in this operation” and that the “performance of duties does not include murder.”

Read the full text of the press release at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=158265.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=158245.

Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution-policy/.