THE legal principles outlined by former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang will serve as a guide in examining the financial records of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte as the prosecution pursues its unexplained wealth allegations against her, House prosecutor San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora said Monday.
Cabotaje-Tang took the stand as the first prosecution witness for Article II, ahead of the government, bank and other financial documents that prosecutors intend to present in the coming days.
Zamora said Cabotaje-Tang’s role was to establish the public accountability standards through which the evidence could later be understood and assessed.
“Ang mahalaga po doon ay para masabi po niya at malaman ng taong-bayan ang mechanism ng public accountability na meron po tayo, and so that we can apply this mechanism of public accountability when we evaluate the financial records of the respondent,” Zamora said at a press briefing.
“Ang purpose po ni Justice Tang, ang testimonya ni Justice Tang ay to provide the legal framework so that we will understand the evidence,” she added.
During her testimony, Cabotaje-Tang discussed the general rules governing unexplained and ill-gotten wealth, the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), as well as restrictions and disclosure requirements involving the business and financial interests of public officials.
Zamora emphasized that the former anti-graft court chief was not called to establish facts about particular accounts, funds or documents attributed to Duterte.
“Testimonya niya ay about general principles that I guess everyone should know and everyone should understand, so that we will better understand this article on unexplained wealth,” she said.
She described Cabotaje-Tang as a “disinterested witness” who drew her testimony from years of legal experience and had no personal ties to the prosecution.
House impeachment team adviser and spokesperson former Rep. Ace Barbers said the discussion was also intended to give the public a clearer picture of the rules governing public officials, including what they must disclose and what activities are prohibited while in office.
“So ito mahalaga dahil naging malinaw kung ano ’yung pwede at ano ’yung hindi pwede bilang isang lingkod-bayan. Kailangan very clear ito at naiintindihan ito ng ating mga mamamayan,” Barbers said.
Among the matters discussed were SALN requirements, disclosure of business interests and constitutional restrictions applicable to officials such as the President and Vice President.
Barbers, a former Surigao del Norte lawmaker, likewise pointed to Cabotaje-Tang’s lack of any known political stake in the proceedings.
“Disinterested kasi she has no political interest nor affiliation,” he said.
Cabotaje-Tang was allowed to take the witness stand after the Senate impeachment court turned down the defense’s attempt to exclude her as a “surprise witness.”
The court stressed that her testimony remained subject to qualification and cross-examination and that her opinions would not be binding on the senator-judges.
The prosecution is presenting Cabotaje-Tang’s testimony as it opens Article II, which accuses Duterte of possessing unexplained wealth and failing to fully and truthfully disclose her assets, liabilities, business interests and financial connections.
With the general legal framework laid down, prosecutors are expected to shift to documentary and financial records in the coming days to support their allegations against the Vice President.
metrosundaily
