Retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang denied receiving any offer or promise in exchange for her testimony before the Senate Impeachment Court during Day 24 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday.
Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan asked Tang whether she had been promised anything in return for testifying in the proceedings.
“No, sir. And I will never testify, if ever I was offered anything material or otherwise. My testimony is not for sale, sir,” Tang said.
Vinluan also questioned the circumstances surrounding the service of the subpoena issued to Tang, particularly whether House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno personally served the document.
Tang said the subpoena was sent to her through email and identified Diokno as the person who emailed it.
When asked whether the procedure was proper, Tang explained that the Supreme Court now allows service through email.
Vinluan then asked whether it was the court’s responsibility to serve subpoenas under the rules. Tang acknowledged that it was, but added that the court may sometimes designate another person to serve them.
Asked whether she knew if Diokno had been specifically designated by the court to serve the subpoena, Tang said she did not know.
“I assume that he had the authority to send it to me,” Tang said.
Presiding Officer Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero later clarified that the subpoena was sent to the address provided by the prosecution panel for Tang.
Escudero explained that under the rules, the court sends subpoenas to the address supplied by the prosecution or defense panel for their respective witnesses.
Vinluan also asked Tang whether she was currently seeking an ambassadorial position.
Tang rejected the suggestion, saying, “No, sir. I am retired and I want to enjoy my retirement.”
Tang’s testimony is part of the prosecution’s presentation in the Senate impeachment trial of Duterte, which has moved to Article II of the Articles of Impeachment concerning allegations of unexplained wealth, false Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), and continued business interests.
