SC: Courts won’t turn on Christmas lights until power is restored in Odette-hit areas

Christmas lights in all courts nationwide and at the official residences of Justices in Baguio City will be turned off until power supply is restored in areas hit by Typhoon Odette, the Supreme Court announced Wednesday.

This was after the High Court found that Bohol, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, and the Dinagat Islands will remain without electricity over Christmas.

“In sympathy and in the spirit of the season, the Justices have decided to turn off all Christmas lights in all courts nationwide and their official residences… until power supply is restored in the typhoon-affected areas,” it said.

Meanwhile, it said Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has approved the release of calamity assistance for affected court personnel.

“All the members of the Court have, on their own and as a group, made donations or helped out in the relief efforts,” the 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.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday declared a state of calamity over Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and the Caraga regions.

Meanwhile, the death toll due to Odette has climbed to 177 while 38 individuals were reported to be missing.—Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA News