Cabotaje-Tang, Ombudsman exec among first witnesses for Article II

Senate impeachment court (INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA) MANILA, Philippines — Former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang is among the first three witnesses that the prosecution panel will call for Article II of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said on Thursday. During a press briefing on Thursday, Ridon announced the witnesses that the prosecution panel asked a subpoena for from the Senate impeachment court, for discussions on Article II or allegations of Duterte having unexplained wealth: Cabotaje-Tang Atty. Karen Batu, officer-in-charge, Office of the Ombudsman Records Division Atty. Gerardo del Rosario, Director, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – Company Registration and Monitoring Department According to Ridon, Cabotaje-Tang will be asked to testify about the principles governing public accountability and integrity. Article continues after this advertisement Batu, meanwhile, will discuss the details of Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). “Tatlo po ‘yong hiningan ng pag-issue ng subpoena ad testificandum, una po si former presiding justice ng Sandiganbayan, si retired Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, pag-uusapan po niya ‘yong mga prinsipyo governing ‘yong usapin po ng public accountability, integrity in public office, at mechanisms for addressing undisclosed and unexplained wealth, and prohibited business interests,” he said. (We have asked for a subpoena ad testificandum for three individuals, first is former Sandiganbayan presiding justice, retired Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, to discuss the principles governing discussions of public accountability, integrity in public office, and mechanisms for addressing undisclosed and unexplained wealth, and prohibited business interests.) “Si Atty. Karen Batu, officer-in-charge, Records Division ng Office of the Ombudsman, tatalakayin po ‘yong mga partikular na detalye sa SALN ng atin pong pangalawang pangulo, partikular po ‘yong submissions,” he added. (Atty. Karen Batu, officer-in-charge, Records Division ng Office of the Ombudsman, will also be asked to tesitfy for discussions on the particular details of our vice president’s SALN, especially her submissions.) Article continues after this advertisement Ridon also said that del Rosario will be asked to testify about the records concerning the businesses owned by Duterte that are registered with the SEC. “At panghuli, si Atty. Gerardo del Rosario ng Securities and Exchange Commission, Director, Company Registration and Monitoring Department, kung saan pag-uusapan po ‘yong pag-authenticate at pag-identify ng records no’n pong mga kumpanya ng atin pong pangalawang pangulo,” he said. Article continues after this advertisement (Finally, Atty. Gerardo del Rosario of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Director, Company Registration and Monitoring Department, will be asked to authenticate and identify the records of the vice president’s companies.) “So naghahanda na po ‘yong unexplained wealth team para po doon sa pagbubukas ng article po na ito. So hopefully in the next two to three weeks — particularly kung mahaba po ‘yong paglilitis matapos po namin hopefully before the middle of October or at the start of October, ito pong pagbubukas at pagsasara nitong unexplained wealth article,” he added. (So the unexplained wealth team is preparing for the opening of this article. So hopefully in the next two to three weeks — particularly if we will have longer hearing days, hopefully we can finish before the middle of October or at the start of October, and close this unexplained wealth article.) Batu and the SEC were both invited to the House of Representatives’ committee on justice which tackled the two impeachment complaints against Duterte. However, this is the first time that Cabotaje-Tang will be affiliated with the impeachment proceedings. READ: Ombudsman exec confirms Sara Duterte’s SALNs from 2007 to 2024 Cabotaje-Tang was appointed by then – President Benigno Aquino III to be the presiding judge of the Sandiganbayan in October 2013, following the mandatory retirement of Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz. She was one of the junior justices appointed to ranking posts in the Judiciary during Aquino’s time, including former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Prior to her appointment to the Sandiganbayan, Cabotaje-Tang was a former assistant solicitor-general. She had just been with the anti-graft court for a year before Aquino named her to the top spot. READ: Aquino appoints new Sandiganbayan presiding justice Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. While assistant solicitor general, Cabotaje-Tang defended the government before the Sandiganbayan to stop the plea bargain deal between the Office of the Ombudsman and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia. /gsg