‘My testimony is not for sale: Ex-justice Tang claps back at defense’s bias insinuations

TRIAL. Retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang takes the witness stand in the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on September 14, 2026.

Senate screenshot

Sara Duterte's lawyer, in a bid to shoot down the former Sandiganbayan justice's credibility, asks her if she is a 'Kakampink' or 'anti-Duterte'

AT A GLANCE

• Former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang faced challenging questions regarding her impartiality during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
• Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan questioned Tang's political affiliations and whether she had been promised anything for her testimony, to which Tang firmly denied any bias or offers.
• Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo later emphasized the need to respect all witnesses, while Deputy Speaker Janette Garin criticized Vinluan's questioning style as rude.

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MANILA, Philippines – Former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang endured questions that sought to challenge her impartiality during the defense’s cross-examination on the 24th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan, who interrogated Tang, pointed out on Monday, September 14, that the witness was appointed to the Sandiganbayan by the late former president Benigno Aquino III in 2012, and applied for a Supreme Court justice post four times.

“Were you ever disappointed at (former president Rodrigo Duterte) for not appointing you?” Vinluan asked.

“No, that is his exclusive prerogative,” Tang answered.

Vinluan explicitly asked whether Tang was “anti-Duterte,” but Tang insisted she is apolitical.

Later, Vinluan asked Tang whether she was “promised anything in return,” such as an ambassadorial post, for her testimony.

“No, Sir, and I will never testify if ever I was offered anything material or otherwise,” Tang said. “My testimony is not for sale.”

This line of questioning by the defense appeared to have prompted senator-judge Erwin Tulfo later in the trial to make a clarification with presiding officer Chiz Escudero.

“If there are similar retired justices, officials to testify in this court, must we still afford them respect because of their service?” Tulfo asked.

“Any and all witnesses… should be accorded respect,” Escudero said. “If I understand where you’re leading towards, the counsels, especially the opposing counsel, have the right and leeway to ask questions of a witness even if he or she is a retired witness in order to test the witness’ credibility or reliability.”

Deputy Speaker Janette Garin, who sat in the post-trial press conference by the prosecution, said she took offense at the line of questioning by Vinluan.

“(Tang) was there to interpret laws to the best of her capability and her experience, having been in government, in those positions for a long time,” Garin said. “In my view, in a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines), being ill-mannered is frowned upon, and earlier, I felt like Attorney Vinluan’s questions were slightly rude.” – Rappler.com