MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) suspended work in all first and second level courts and offices in Luzon on Wednesday, October 23, due to tropical storm Kristine (international name: Trami).
In a Facebook announcement, the SC stated, “Work in all first and second level courts and offices in Luzon (Judicial Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V and the National Capital Judicial Region) is suspended on October 23, 2024, due to inclement weather.”
The SC further reminded all judges and clerks of court concerned to strictly adhere to disaster reporting protocols and response mechanisms.
“Judges should also monitor the condition of their court premises to determine or conduct any required clean-up operation or repair or rehabilitation work,” it added.
The Court of Tax Appeals also suspended operations in all its offices due to Kristine.
WORK SUSPENSION: In view of the inclement weather brought about by Tropical Storm “Kristine,” operations in all offices of the Court of Tax Appeals are suspended on October 23, 2024.
READ the Memorandum issued by the Court of Tax Appeals on Work Suspension for October 23, 2024…
— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO)
Despite the suspension, courts and offices across Luzon are still required to remain accessible to lawyers, court users and litigants through their hotline numbers and email addresses.
Based on the state weather bureau’s latest report, Kristine was last spotted 310 kilometers (km) east of Baler, Aurora, or 310 km east northeast of Infanta, Quezon.
It was carrying maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) with gusts of up to 105 kph.