Sara Duterte camp opposes witness testimony, citing impropriety

The camp of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has objected to the scheduled testimony of former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang, deeming it "improper." Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan argued that Tang’s testimony would elicit conclusions of law, which is the role of the senator-judges and not a witness. Vinluan also stated that Tang is a surprise witness and that they were not provided with materials related to her testimony in advance, hindering their ability to mount a defense. "This will violate her (Vice President’s) right to be completely informed of the true nature and cause of accusations against her," Vinluan said. Conversely, House prosecutor and Akbayan party-list Representative Chel Diokno, who offered Tang's testimony, explained that Tang's expertise on public accountability laws is something that lawyers and non-lawyers are unfamiliar with, making her testimony necessary. "The law does not state why a law is crafted a particular way. Paano mapapanagot kung hindi nila ito (bakit) alam?" Diokno questioned, implying that understanding the rationale behind laws is crucial for accountability. This exchange highlights ongoing debates within Philippine politics regarding judicial proceedings, the fairness of witness testimonies, and the protection of an accused's rights. Source: GMA News Philippines