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MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court on Friday announced the suspension of work in some courts in the Bicol region, Northern Samar and Isabela due to Typhoon Pepito and Severe Tropical Storm Ofel.
Below is the list of courts that suspended operations on Friday:
Camarines Sur
- RTC Branch 63 in Calabanga and all MTCs within its jurisdiction
- RTC San Jose and all MCTCs and MTCs within its jurisdiction
- RTC Naga City and all first level courts within its jurisdiction, including MTCC Naga City
- RTC Iriga City; MCTC Nabua-Bato; MTC Buhi; MTC Baao; and MTC Balatan
- All courts in the Libmanan Administrative Area
Camarines Norte
- RTC Branch 64 Labo; the MCTC Capalonga-Santa Elena; MTC Jose Panganiban; and MTC Paracale
Sorsogon
- RTC Sorsogon City and all first level courts under its jurisdiction
Northern Samar
- RTC Catarman and all first level courts within its jurisdiction
Isabela
- All RTC branches and the Office of the Clerk of Court in Santiago City; MCTC Cordon-Dinapigue; MCTC Ramon-San Isidro
Severe Tropical Storm Pepito (international name: Man-yi) intensified into a typhoon on Friday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
It was last spotted moving west at 30 kilometers per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
Parts of Northern and Eastern Samar were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2, while parts of the Bicol region and the provinces of Samar and Biliran were under Signal No. 1 due to Pepito.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) weakened into a severe tropical storm also on Friday morning.
In its latest advisory, Pagasa said Ofel was moving north-northwest at 20 kph, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
It was last spotted 215 kms northwest of Calayan, Cagayan.
The state weather bureau said Ofel will exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday afternoon.