LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 14, 2026
MANILA, Philippines – The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte enters its 24th day Monday as the prosecution begins the presentation of evidence for Article II, which accuses her of betrayal of public trust over alleged unexplained wealth disproportionate to her lawful income.
The House prosecution also alleges that Duterte failed to declare some of her wealth in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and earned income from prohibited business interests.
The prosecution has 12 trial days to present its case for Article II, with 14 witnesses and more than 1,800 bank, tax and financial records expected to be presented.
The prosecution panel begins presenting its case on Article II, which alleges unexplained wealth involving Vice President Sara Duterte, on Monday, September 14. Here’s what Article II is about. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F27eXR Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv76qr
‘DO YOU PLAY CHESS, MA’AM?’ Atty. Mark Vinluan invoked a chess analogy during his questioning of retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, asking whether she knew that, despite the queen’s power, it is the king—not the queen—that is ultimately checkmated. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F27eXR Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv76qr
‘MY TESTIMONY IS NOT FOR SALE’ Retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang firmly denied being promised anything in exchange for her testimony on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F27eXR Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv76qr
NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE LOOK: Retired Sandiganbayan justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang acknowledged that she has no personal knowledge if Vice President Sara Duterte amassed unexplained wealth or accurately declared her assets in her SALNs. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
‘MY TESTIMONY IS NOT FOR SALE, SIR.’ LOOK: Defense counsel Mark Vinluan asked retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang if she had been promised anything in exchange for her testimony. Cabotaje-Tang: I will never testify if I ever was offered anything material or otherwise. My testimony is not for sale, sir. Vinluan: Are you vying for an ambassadorial position? Cabotaje-Tang: No, sir. I am retired and I want to enjoy my retirement. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: Defense counsel Mark Vinluan questions why subpoena for retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang was sent to office of House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
‘KAKAMPINK PO BA KAYO?’ LOOK: Defense counsel Mark Vinluan questioned retired Sandiganbayan justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang about her political affiliations, noting that she applied for the Supreme Court four times during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. Vinluan: Were you ever disappointed at Duterte for not appointing you? Cabotaje-Tang: No, sir. That is his exclusive prerogative. Vinluan: Are you anti-Duterte? Cabotaje-Tang: No, I am not. Vinluan: Do you like VP Sara Duterte? Cabotaje-Tang: I do not know her personally. Vinluan: Kakampink po ba kayo? Cabotaje-Tang: No, I’ve never been political in my life. I’ve always been apolitical. Vinluan: Friends po kayo ni Rep. Chel Diokno? Cabotaje-Tang: No. We were adversaries actually in the Amparo cases before the Court of Appeals. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
‘ARE YOU ANTI-DUTERTE?’ Atty. Mark Vinluan pressed retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang on her political leanings, asking if she likes Vice President Sara Duterte or identifies as a "Kakampink." Cabotaje-Tang firmly asserted she has always been apolitical, even after confirming she was passed over for a Supreme Court post during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F27eXR Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv76qr
LOOK: Defense counsel Mark Vinluan asks retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang if she considers herself a legal expert. Cabotaje-Tang: “I will not make that judgment on myself, but I will let the others do that for me.” She also agreed that there are no certification programs or definite standards for determining who may be considered a legal expert. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
‘WALA PA KAYONG NAHAWAKAN NA NASIBAK SA SERBISYO OR NAKULONG?’ Retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said the court forfeited assets in a previous case involving a government official whose income did not match their declared wealth. However, she said none of the officials in cases she handled had been dismissed or jailed. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F27eXR Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv76qr
TESTIFYING ON ARTICLE II LOOK: Retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang appears before the Senate impeachment court on Monday, September 14, as the prosecution’s lead witness for Article II. The panel introduced Cabotaje-Tang’s testimony to support allegations of unexplained wealth against Vice President Sara Duterte as the trial entered its 24th day. #VPonTrial | 📷: Niño Jesus Orbeta, Philippine Daily Inquirer [1/3] Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F27eXR Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv76qr
‘GREATER POSSIBILITY OF ABUSE’ Retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang explained why the law imposes stricter prohibitions on the President, Vice President, and Cabinet members when it comes to income and financial interests. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo asks if omission from SALN is considered hidden or unexplained wealth. Retired Sandiganbayan presiding judge Amparo Cabotaje-Tang says, “Hindi nangangahulugan na kapag may omission sa SALN ay kaagad sasabihin na may unexplained wealth." "According to the Supreme Court, doon sa case ni Carlos v. Executive Secretary, dapat mabigyan ng pagkakataon ’yung public officer na ipaliwanag bakit hindi naisama sa kanyang SALN ’yung mga ibang assets,” she says. Tulfo: “Pero kung perennial, palagi pong nangyari na lang year after year, how would you consider that?” Tang: “According to the Supreme Court, dapat tingnan mo kung ’yong omission na ’yan is an honest omission or it was an honest mistake compared to an intentional concealment.” #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: Retired Sandiganbayan presiding judge Amparo Cabotaje-Tang: Ang SALN ay notaryadong dokumento. It is also an accountability framework. ‘Pag nag-execute ang isang official dapat he should do it by exercising prudence, caution, and attention sa details na nakasaad sa kanyang SALN. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang says SALN is an important tool in determining whether a public official acquired wealth while in office. "Para malaman kung ang isang opisyal ay yumaman habang nasa puwesto at kung papaano niya na-acquire ang yaman na ito," she says. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: Prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno begins his direct examination of retired Sandiganbayan presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang by establishing her qualifications as a legal expert. – 44 years in public legal service, from 1980 until her retirement in 2024 – Nearly 31 years at the Office of the Solicitor General, where she handled ill-gotten wealth cases and later chaired a PCGG-OSG task force for such cases – Handled civil forfeiture cases involving money laundering while at the OSG – Sandiganbayan justice from 2012 to 2024; served as associate justice before becoming presiding justice in 2013 – Around 700 cases involving anti-graft laws, civil forfeiture of unexplained wealth under RA 1379, and the Code of Conduct under RA 6713 #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
HIDDEN VS UNEXPLAINED VS ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH LOOK: Retired Sandiganbayan justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang explains distinctions between hidden wealth, unexplained wealth and ill-gotten wealth. Hidden wealth – "Tagong yaman"; Tang gives as an example a public official who owns a property but has it registered under someone else’s name. Unexplained wealth – governed by Republic Act 1379 in relation to RA 3019. Tang says the term is specifically defined under Section 2 of RA 1379. Ill-gotten wealth – under Executive Order No. 1 and related laws, refers to wealth acquired through illegal means, such as bribery, misappropriation and malversation. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan stressed that retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang is not a Supreme Court (SC) justice and that Sandiganbayan rulings remain subject to SC review. Citing a 2016 Inquirer report, Vinluan noted that Cabotaje-Tang had said she would respect the SC’s decision in the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo plunder case. #VPonTrial https://t.co/Prpu1kNWSV
‘NANONOOD ANG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO DAHIL PERA NILA ANG INVOLVED DITO’ Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno presented retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang as a prosecution witness for Article II, which accuses Vice President Sara Duterte of betrayal of public trust over alleged unexplained wealth disproportionate to her lawful income. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F27eXR Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv76qr
LOOK: Presiding Officer Francis Escudero allows retired Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang to testify despite the defense’s objection that she is a surprise witness. He says the pre-trial order allows additional or substitute witnesses, and Tang’s testimony will be subject to cross-examination. He also says Tang’s opinions will not be binding or conclusive on the impeachment court. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
‘MASAMA BA ‘YON NA MARAMI AKONG PERA?’ LOOK: Senator-judge Vicente Sotto III supports hearing retired Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang’s testimony, saying it could help the impeachment court and the public understand matters involving money and bank accounts that may arise in the trial. "Kaya magandang marinig natin din ‘yung ganito ng bagay sapagkat kami mismo, ako mismo, gusto ko malaman kung may pera ako sa bangko, alam ko saan galing, paano ‘yon, masama ba ‘yon na marami akong pera?" Sotto says. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: Senator-judge Imee Marcos questions the prosecution’s presentation of retired Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang as a witness, asking whether Tang will testify on matters of fact or identify specific documents. Prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno says Tang will not testify on facts or documents, but will instead provide a “legal framework” to help the impeachment court and the Filipino public understand the evidence that will be presented later. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
‘KUNG SAAN-SAAN LANG KAMI GRADUATE’ Senator-judge Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said it would be good for the impeachment court to hear the testimony of retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, noting that it could be educational for some senator-judges and the viewing public. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F27eXR Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv76qr
LOOK: Defense counsel Mark Vinluan asks the impeachment court to exclude the testimony of retired Sandiganbayan presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, arguing that her presentation is improper both procedurally and substantively. Vinluan says Tang is a “surprise witness” because she was not listed in the pre-trial order and the defense was not given copies of the materials she would use. He adds that she is "not a friend of the court" or an amicus curiae as her testimony was not approved by court as such. He says this infringes on Vice President Sara Duterte’s right to intelligently cross-examine Tang and violates her constitutional right to due process. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: Prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno says the prosecution is offering retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang as a witness to explain legal concepts relevant to Article II of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. “Our people have a right to know what the law provides when it comes to unexplained or illegally acquired wealth, SALN, beneficial ownership, financial interests, and other relevant legal terms,” Diokno says. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: Retired Sandiganbayan presiding judge Amparo Cabotaje-Tang takes the stand as prosecution’s first witness for Article II, which alleges unexplained wealth. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: Lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro introduces subsections under Article II: – unexplained wealth – SALN violation – non-divestment of other financial and business interests #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
LOOK: DAY 24: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Monday, September 14. A quorum has been declared, with 17 senator-judges present. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
WATCH: Lead Prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro says she believes that the Senate has the sole power to decide whether to base the 2/3 conviction threshold on all 24 senators or only the members of the Senate who are able to attend VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. Asked if they already have a stand as both the prosecution & defense are expected to participate in an oral argument on the matter, Luistro said it will be “favorable” for them to base it “on those who are attending only.” #VPonTrial | @bellepechayINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/dj41F26H8j Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/pfgROv6yAT
FOLLOW THE MONEY, EYES ON THE BOUNCING BALL WATCH: Counsel for the prosecution Amando Ligutan says about the upcoming impeachment article, referring to VP Sara Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth. #VPonTrial | @keithcINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/NnTR58aGsh… pic.twitter.com/Aiga1w4wU4
