University of the Philippines College of Law Dean Gwen Grecia-De Vera said retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang was able to provide important legal guidance on highly technical laws on corruption and public accountability during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Grecia-De Vera backed the prosecution’s move to call Cabotaje-Tang as a witness, noting that graft and corruption is a specialized area of law and the retired magistrate had years of experience heading the anti-graft court.
She also described Cabotaje-Tang as highly regarded, which was why UP Law students invited her as one of the speakers in a forum, which the defense cited as it questioned her on whether she plans to join Akbayan.
“Sa palagay ko po, ang lohika ng pag-present sa kanya ng prosecution, dahil nga po ito ay napaka-technical na field, yung binigay niya na information ngayon, makakatulong kapag sinalansan na nila yung ibang ebidensya,” she said on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s “On Point.”
She said the fact that Cabotaje-Tang has no personal knowledge of the allegations concerning Duterte or the President, for that matter, made her testimony important.
“Because she said, essentially, she is trying to help us understand, not based on her interpretation but based on her experience, how these cases essentially flow,” she said.
She noted that Cabotaje-Tang was able to underscore that ill-gotten wealth cases against public officials need not always involve government funds.
Grecia-De Vera also explained that one of the cases that Cabotaje-Tang frequently cited, Civil Liberties Union vs. Executive Secretary, showed why the 1987 Constitution was strict about public officials’ holding business interests while in office.
The law dean said this was the result of the country’s experience during the first Marcos administration where many cabinet members held multiple offices that they abused.
“Meron po kasing isang portion doon na iyong pag-abuso nila noon, noong marami silang position, ay isa pong uri ng betrayal of the public trust,” she added.