Republiks ng Pilipinas KAGAWARAN NG KATARUNGAN Department of Justice Manila orice oper 0476 TO § THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL ALL REGIONAL PROSECUTORS ALL PROVINCIAL AND CITY PROSECUTORS ALL CONCERNED SUBJECT : GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ‘THE GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE DATE =: MAY 15 2020 In the interest of service, pursuant to Executive Order No. 112 and its corresponding omnibus guidelines, as well as other applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and in order to safeguard the health and safety of all concerned in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, these guidelines are hereby adopted for the National Prosecution Service offices in the region, province, city, and/or municipality duly placed under general community quarantine. A. NPS OPERATIONS All offices shall be physically open from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m., Mondays to. Fridays, subject to alternative work arrangements for prosecutors, prosecution attorneys, and support staff as may be deemed proper by the ‘Prosacuter General and the Regional Prosecutors within their respective regions accordance with Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 10, dated 7 May 2020 and other relevant rules and regulations issued or to beissued by the Civil Service Commission. ‘In the planning foralternative work arrangements, considerati given fo those who are sixty (60) years old and above,immunodeficiencies, comorbidities, and/or those with other health risks and other vulnerable groups, including those who reside with the aforementioned persons. The area Of residence of the employees shall also be taken into consideration. B, INQUEST PROCEEDINGS Inquest proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Court and relevant guidelines previously issued ry this Department. The conduct of electronic inquest, which utilizes technology in effectively minimizing face to face contact, shall be encouraged as far as practicable and shall be governed by rules issued by the Prosecutor General and the Regional Prosecutors for their respective regions. C, PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS Complaints for preliminary investigation shall continue to be received tor docketing and recording and properly assigned to a prosecutor for the conduct of investigation. Electronic filing of complaints for preliminary investigation, which utilizes technology in effectively minimizing face to face’ contact, shall be explored and its implementation, if practicable, shall be governed by rules to be issued by the Prosecutor General and the Regional Prosecutors for their respective regions. Earlier scheduled preliminary investigation hearings and case ‘conferences shall resume subject to the observance of minimum health _ standards and ather protocols. For areas placed under General Community Quarantine from 01 May piseirpelenestany, period for the filing of affidavits, motions, position for review, and other relevant papers, as well as the tendition and/or other orders, shall once again commence to run thirty (30) 101 May 2020, or'on 31 May 2020. iFor all other areas to be placed under General Community Quarantine after 31 May 2020, the reglementary period for the filing of affidavits, motions, position papers, petitions For review, and other relevant papers, as well as the rendition of resolutions and/or other orders, shall once again commence to run upon the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine in the region, province, city, municipality, and/or area concemed, of unless sooner declared by this Department, E. COURT HEARINGS Trial prosecutors shall continue to attend court hearings and prosecute cases following the procedures and rules and regulations issued or as may be issued by the Supreme Court. ¥. MINIMUM HEALTH STANDARDS ‘All offices shall at all times observe social distancing and other preventive health measures as advised by the relevant health authorities. The heads of offices shall ensure that foot traffic within their offices is limited and that the physical layout of their offices accommodates social distancing and other preventive health measures (e.g. separate ingress and egress within the office premises, marked! flooring for queuing management, litigants-only policy). Activities that require group gatherings shall be discouraged (e.g: congregating and eating in groups). Everyone is mandated to wear face masks, face shields, or such other protective equipment or a combination thereof that can effectively lessen the transmission of Covid-19. The heads of office shall ensure the supply and availability of items necessary for hand hygiene and the disinfection of the Office premises; All heads of offices are encouraged to utilize and to: maxi technolagies to minimize face to face contacts and ma on of documents in all public service activities. ensure continued efficient and effective deliveryarrangements, the Prosecutor General and the Regional Prosecutors shall adopt a monitoring mechanism with appropriate work accomplishment targets consistent with the NPS Performance Monitoring and Reporting System and Strategic Performance Management System of the Department. The initial ratio of traditional work arrangement as to the alternative work arrangement shall be 50:50, which may be adjusted from time to time. Employees whose physical presence may be required in the office but who are hesitant to report to work out of legitimate fear of infection may file for leave of absence or arrange another alternative work arrangement with their respective heads of office. Finally, the Prosecutor General and the Regional Prosecutors are directed to issue further operational guidelines. In doing so, the Prosecutor General and the Regional Prosecutors are expected not just to address current issues and ‘concerns brought about by the présent pandemic, but, more importantly, to take this opportunity to revisit the relevant practices and procedures of the: ‘National Prosecution Service, and to make the ea ae