Courts suspend work in Iloilo after earthquakes

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of work and court operations in all first- and second-level courts in Iloilo City from Oct. 13 to 17, 2025, in light of the recent earthquakes that struck parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

In a memorandum dated Oct. 12, 2025, Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta announced the suspension to allow a thorough assessment of the structural integrity of Iloilo’s courthouses.

“Work and court operations… are suspended pending the assessment to be still made on the structural integrity of the courthouse,” the memorandum stated.

Despite the suspension, the Office of the Court Administrator directed all presiding judges to keep official hotlines and communication channels open to promptly act on urgent judicial matters, including applications for bail, habeas corpus, and other similar reliefs.

The order came after a series of strong earthquakes hit the country, including the magnitude 6.9 quake in Bogo City, Cebu, on Sept. 30 and the magnitude 7.4 offshore tremor in Davao Oriental on Oct. 10, both of which sent tremors across Iloilo and neighboring provinces.

These seismic events prompted local authorities to reexamine the safety of government buildings and infrastructure.

The OCA also instructed the Office of the Regional Court Manager for Judicial Region VI to submit a report on or before Oct. 17 on the condition and accessibility of Iloilo’s court buildings.

Gomez-Estoesta further advised court officials to inform the OCA immediately if there are identified or proposed alternative venues suitable for temporary court operations, pending confirmation of the safety of their existing premises.

The directive was issued under the authority of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo to ensure the safety of personnel and litigants as authorities continue to inspect public infrastructure affected by the recent seismic events.