MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida suspended work at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday to “afford the employees the opportunity to watch and listen” to the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a memorandum, a copy of which was obtained by The Manila Times, Vida said the suspension, which started at 11 a.m., was also in anticipation of heavy traffic and possible disruptions in public transportation.
He said all frontline services of the agency were expected to keep a skeleton workforce to ensure the continued delivery of public service like receiving communications, letters, affidavits, motions, pleadings and other documents from the public.
A DOJ insider said the suspension has nothing to do with the blast, triggered by an improvised explosive device, that occurred after midnight, 12:17 a.m., near the entrance of the DOJ compound on Padre Faura Street, Ermita.
DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez said authorities were currently investigating the explosion that caused a slight damage to a parked Toyota Innova.
