00:00Now, I'm showing you a copy of a news article from ABS-CBN News Online po, dated December 5, 2018,
00:07entitled, Sandigan Bayan Judge Accused of Quote-Unquote Favoritism.
00:12I would have to interpose an objection, Your Honor.
00:15No question yet, Your Honor.
00:16I will wait.
00:17For the sake of time, I'll just read the first paragraph and then I'll ask questions thereafter po.
00:22It says here, a group of concerned…
00:24Your Honor, please, before the paragraph is read, my objection is fundamental to the introduction of documents that have not
00:32been authenticated nor marked by the defense.
00:36Your Honor, this is cross.
00:36We're allowed to present controverting evidence, Your Honor.
00:39Even on cross-examination, if Your Honor, please, the documents used must be authenticated.
00:44Can we get the rolling?
00:45There's no authentication yet of this document.
00:47We note the objection of counsel.
00:49Attorney Mark, you may proceed.
00:51Alright, it says here, a group of concerned Sandigan Bayan employees of accused presiding justice Amparo Kabutahitang of quote-unquote
00:59favoritism and of running the court like ousted chief justice.
01:02My only question is this po, ma'am.
01:03Are you familiar po with this issue of favoritism?
01:06Doh, sir.
01:08But during your public panel interview for your Supreme Court application, were you ever confronted with this issue before?
01:15Before the Judicial and Bar Council or JBC?
01:21I don't recall, sir.
01:23You don't recall.
01:23That's okay.
01:24At any rate, when you applied as Supreme Court Justice, it was FPRRD who was appointing official at the time
01:34of your application?
01:36Yes, sir.
01:37Were you ever disappointed at FPRRD for not appointing you?
01:41No, sir.
01:42That is his exclusive prerogative.
01:46But are you anti-Duterte anymore?
01:48No, I'm not.
01:48Alright, okay.
01:49Do you like VP Sarah?
01:51I do not know her personally.
01:53You don't know her personally.
01:54Kakamping po ba kayo bang?
01:56Po?
01:56Kakamping po kayo.
01:58Anong ibig sabihin nun?
02:00Yung affiliated with the pink.
02:04No, I've never been political in my life.
02:07I've always been apolitical.
02:09Pero friends po kayo ni Representative Jokno.
02:12No, we were adversaries actually in the Amparo cases before the Court of Appeals.
02:17Alright, I see.
02:18Now, considering your educational background as mentioned by Representative Jokno before and your professional background as well,
02:30are you of the opinion that you are qualified to give legal opinions here today?
02:35Again, sir, I will not pass judgment on my expertise or absence of it.
02:44Alright, I respect that, ma'am.
02:45But let me ask you a more pointed question.
02:48In your years as Sandigan Bayan Justice,
02:51have you ever allowed a former magistrate to testify as a witness and give legal opinions?
02:57No, sir.
03:00Not...
03:00No, sir.
03:01No, you can explain po.
03:04You wanted to explain.
03:05No, my point here is I'm no longer an incumbent member of the judiciary.
03:11Yeah, but when you were in Sandigan Bayan, was that ever a case that you allowed a former magistrate to
03:15testify as a witness?
03:17No, sir.
03:17Alright.
03:17And because that former magistrate should be smart enough to know that such is not proper, correct?
03:26Kamaginta, sir.
03:27Yung pag-testify po nung magistrate na yun, she should know that it's not proper in your, in Sandigan Bayan
03:35cases.
03:35Well, it really would depend on the circumstances of the case, sir.
03:40In that case, in Sandigan Bayan cases, I'm not talking about this case.
03:44But is it unethical for that justice to testify and give legal opinions?
03:49In cases pending before the Sandigan Bayan?
03:52Yes.
03:52Of course, sir.
03:53Of course.
03:53Unethical?
03:54Of course.
03:54Alright, okay.
03:55At any rate, as a former magistrate yourself, you decided to testify today and give legal opinions in open court.
04:02Objection, Your Honor.
04:03The witness, as I mentioned earlier, is here because she was subjected to a subpoena, an order by this Honorable
04:10Court.
04:11As requested, of course, by the Panel of Prosecutors' Council.
04:17Witness may answer.
04:18Witness is part enough to be able to answer and or parry any questions from Council.
04:22Well, given the choice, sir, I would not have come here.
04:26You would not have come here.
04:27Without the subpoena.
04:27You can withdraw your testimony.
04:29Would you want to do that?
04:31No, sir.
04:31I'm already here.
04:32You're already here.
04:32Sayang naman, ma'am.
04:34Yes.
04:34Alright, sige.
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