MANILA, Philippines — Bad weather conditions due to southwest monsoon or habagat prevailed over the week affecting Luzon and Western Visayas. On August 9, five young students died after a landslide struck Barangay Guisad Surong in Baguio City. 13 people were buried by thick mud and debris while three houses were hit by the landslide, affecting five families.
Nonstop rain disrupted the schooling of around 6.7 million students on August 10, following the suspension of face-to-face classes. The heavy downpour also forced the Senate to postpone the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and the chamber’s regular session.
On August 11, a massive accumulation of floodwater and garbage at the Baclaran-Redemptorist Water Channel happened after its trash trap broke off, allowing waste to enter the waterway. Over 700 metric tons of waste and debris, equivalent to around 203 truckloads of garbage were collected after clearing operations.
Meanwhile, state auditor Xylene Mae del Campo testified before the impeachment court on August 11, saying that the Office of the Vice President spent confidential funds on Christmas parties, tree-planting, and gift-giving activity.
On August 12, counsels for the opposing parties — private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan and defense lawyer Kristine Ferrer — butted heads numerous times. Disputes arose over the use of documents for cross-examination, leading to objections and accusations of misleading questions, prompting interventions from the presiding officer Chiz Escudero.
