Abbey M.

The water level of Angat Dam is nearing the lowest level recorded in its history.

According to data from PAGASA, the dam's water level was at 157.64 meters as of 8 AM today, July 7. 

The lowest level recorded in the dam's history was 157.54 meters, logged on July 14, 2010.

"Ayon sa PAGASA sa ngayon ay mahihirapang mapataas ang tubig sa dam kahit may mga pag-ulan."

(According to PAGASA, it will be difficult to raise the water level in the dam for now even with rainfall.)

The agency earlier said that two to three storms are needed before the water in the dam returns to its normal level.

"Kailangan ng dalawa hanggang tatlong bagyo bago muling bumalik sa normal na lebel ang tubig sa dam."

Angat Dam is the main source of water supply for areas in Metro Manila.

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A group of lawyers has filed an urgent motion with manifestation before the Supreme Court, seeking to halt the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The petitioners questioned the constitutionality of the election of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero as presiding officer of the impeachment court.

The validity of the ongoing impeachment proceedings against the Vice President is now at risk.

This is at the center of the very urgent manifestation with motion filed by a group of lawyers before the Supreme Court, coinciding with the first day of the impeachment trial yesterday. The motion seeks the temporary suspension of the proceedings.

Led by Atty. Israelito Torreon, the petitioners questioned the authority of Senator Escudero, citing the alleged lack of legal basis for him to lead as presiding officer of the impeachment court.

The petitioners insisted that, based on the intent of the framers of the 1986 Constitutional Commission, only the Senate President should preside over all impeachment cases — except when the President of the Philippines himself is the one being tried, in which case the Chief Justice should preside.

The motion emphasized that the amendment to Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials last June 3, 2026, which allowed the election of another presiding officer, has serious defects.

According to the motion, there was no quorum when the vote took place, since only 12 out of 24 senators were present. Aside from this, the required one-day notice before amending the rules was also allegedly not followed.

The petitioners said the continuation of the trial under a leader whose authority is questionable violates due process and risks the eventual nullification of the entire trial. As stated in the motion:

"Ang bawat araw ng trial sa ilalim ng isang kwestiyunableng presiding officer ay nagpapalala sa constitutional injury."

(Every day of the trial under a questionable presiding officer worsens the constitutional injury.)

The petitioners are asking the Supreme Court to issue a status quo ante order, temporarily stopping the impeachment court from receiving evidence and continuing the trial until the constitutional question over the court's leadership is resolved.

As of this writing, the Supreme Court has yet to act, while the impeachment trial against the country's second-highest official continues.

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Vice President Sara Duterte should personally appear before the impeachment court. 

This is the opinion of the Palace following the start of the second day of the impeachment trial, which the Vice President was still absent from.

"as a filipino and as a lawyer mas maganda yung isang tao naaakusahan ay makaharap niya yung mga witnesses against her"  Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

(As a Filipino and as a lawyer, it would be better for a person who is being accused to face the witnesses against her.)

Vice President Sara Duterte briefly appeared at the Senate hours before the start of the second day of the impeachment trial against her. Her stated purpose was to meet with her defense team, and she had no plans to attend the trial.

In the opinion of Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, as also stated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., it would be better for the Vice President to personally face the impeachment trial and answer the accusations against her.

"mas maganda kung ako ang lawyer at alam ko na walang mali, malinis, walang pwedeng ikaso sa kaniya, papaharapin ko siya para mapasinungalingan ang mga akusasyon sa kaniya"

(It would be better if I were the lawyer and I knew there was nothing wrong, that she was clean, that there was nothing that could be filed against her — I would have her face it to disprove the accusations against her.)

In her own statement regarding personally facing the trial, VP Sara said the opinion of a president holds no value in impeachment proceedings. She said that impeachment proceedings should be guided by the Constitution and due process.

The respondent, she said, has the right to be represented by counsel during the trial, and the decision to testify personally is a matter of legal strategy and constitutional rights.

Asked whether the President is monitoring the proceedings of the impeachment trial, the Palace responded:

"when you say monitoring nakatutok sa nanunuod hindi naman ganun, maraming trabaho ang pangulo definetly malalaman naman niya yung mga balita"

(When you say monitoring, as in being glued to watching it, it's not really like that — the President has a lot of work, but he will definitely know about the news.)

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Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday once again referred to her impeachment trial as a "bloodbath," this time adding that she expects to be "bloodied but unbowed."

Duterte delivered this in a short statement upon arriving at the Senate to convene with her lawyers for a supposed meeting.

She did not attend the day's trial proceedings.

Defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said Duterte visited the defense team to avoid any inconvenience on their part.

Before this, Duterte visited Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, an ally who is under hospital arrest for health reasons.

Security remained tight around the Senate complex, with authorities maintaining heightened police deployment as preparations continued for the day's proceedings.

Duterte is facing impeachment over allegations that include the misuse of confidential funds and alleged death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., accusations she has repeatedly denied.

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Manila – Vice President Sara Duterte arrived at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) at 7 a.m. to visit Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

The Vice President's visit lasted only an hour, as she left at around 8:30 AM.

According to PNPGH Internal Medicine Department Chief Ltcol. Benaly Bayani, who is also a nephrologist, Sen. Marcoleta is in stable condition, except for complaints of chest and nape pain.

His blood pressure is also fluctuating, ranging from 130 to 140 over 80 to 100, Bayani said.

In an interview, Bayani explained why the senator's blood pressure needs close monitoring. 

"Continuous ang BP monitoring namin sa kanya ngayon. Sa ngayon fluctuating ang BP niya for now siyempre considering yung age niya and the comorbidities po niya, known hypertensive kasi si Sen. Marcoleta so kailangan natin imonitor ang kanyang blood pressure sa ngayon."

(We are continuously monitoring his BP right now. For now, his BP is fluctuating, of course considering his age and his comorbidities — Sen. Marcoleta is a known hypertensive, so we need to monitor his blood pressure at this time.)

According to the doctor, Sen. Marcoleta is also taking maintenance medication for hypertension and prostate condition.

The lawmaker was also subjected to various tests and examinations, such as a 2D echo, ECG, blood chemistry, chest X-ray, and X-ray of the cervical spine.

They are still waiting for the results of these tests to determine the senator's other health conditions.

In relation to this, the senator is not yet fit to stand trial, according to Bayani.

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