September 14, 2026 (Day 24)
The 24th day of the trial marked the official transition of the impeachment court into Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Vice President Sara Duterte of accumulating unexplained wealth and submitting false SALNs. The House prosecution team presented its first witness for this article, former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang. The defense team strongly objected to her appearance on the witness stand, arguing that her testimony as a lawyer would improperly elicit conclusions of law, which remains the exclusive purview of the senator-judges. Despite the defense's objections, the court allowed the proceedings to move forward, leading to rigorous cross-examinations and debates regarding how judicial perspectives and legal interpretations apply to financial accountability cases involving high-ranking public officials.
