MANILA, Philippines — In the spirit of sympathy, Christmas lights in courts nationwide will be turned off and calamity aid has been readied for affected personnel due to Typhoon Odette, the Supreme Court said.
“In sympathy and in the spirit of the season, the Justices have decided to turn off all Christmas lights in all courts nationwide and in their official residences in Baguio City, until power supply is restored in the typhoon-affected areas,” the SC said in a statement on Wednesday.
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The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in its latest report said 239 localities reported power outages or interruption due to the powerful typhoon.
Of these, power supply has been restored in 34 cities or municipalities, leaving nearly 200 localities still without electricity.
The SC also assured court personnel, including those who volunteered to assist in the localized Bar examinations in January, that it is monitoring their situation.
“The Chief Justice has approved the release of calamity assistance to affected court personnel. All members of the Court have, on their own and as a group, made donations or helped out in the relief efforts,” the high court said.
“This is a season for compassion and kindness, for reaching out and sharing as much as we can to ease the suffering of others. Without empathy, there can be no justice,” it added.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has earlier instructed the Office of the Court Administrator to temporarily suspend the period of filing for pleadings and submissions in affected courts from December 20, 2021 to January 3, 2022.
Period for filing that fell due or would fall due in the said period are extended for seven calendar days or up to Jan. 10, 2022.
This move was in consideration of the "extensive damage to government infrastructure and private property, including a number of halls of justice, as well as the severe disruption of power and communication services," the OCA added.