Diokno: Subpoena for Tang served via his office for her protection

MANILA, Philippines – House prosecutor and Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno admitted on Monday that the Senate Impeachment Court’s subpoena for former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang was served to his office to protect her from potential harassment. The issue came up during Day 24 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial after Senator-judge Imee Marcos noted that Tang had defied the court’s order. Diokno explained that Tang intended to comply with the court’s order, and the subpoena was sent to his office “for her protection and to prevent any interference or harassment from the outside.” This highlights critical aspects of impeachment trials, including fairness of proceedings and witness protection. The revelation of the proxy service of the subpoena could lead to further discussions on the transparency of judicial procedures and measures for ensuring the safety of individuals involved. The political landscape in the Philippines often sees such procedural details scrutinized within broader political maneuvering.