Senators Grill Defense Witness Over China Trip

To senator-judges’ exasperation, a defense witness at the resumption of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, Nov. 9, repeatedly claimed not recalling details of his trip to China made just 10 months ago, even after being warned of contempt.

Asked by private prosecutor Jay Tolosa to confirm if he had traveled to China recently, Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin claimed at first he could not remember such a trip, but later admitted there was one indeed which he took with other city department heads early this year.

Adalin was subjected to intense grilling over his January 2026 travel to Beijing and Shanghai, as well as over apparent discrepancies in the declared values of Duterte’s properties.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros expressed disbelief when Adalin initially claimed he could not recall where in China he traveled to, or who organized the trip.

“Sir, I’m sorry po, hindi po talaga nakakatawa (it’s really not funny),” she told Adalin, who was smiling.

“It’s unbelievable that an engineer, a city assessor, who can read maps presented by the defense and the prosecution, can’t recall a big country he had been to,” she said.

Adalin explained that he is “not keen on traveling” and did not memorize his itinerary.

He confirmed, however, that he was joined by the city engineer, city treasurer and city administrator, stressing that it was a “personal travel” and that they paid for their own expenses.

When pressed by Hontiveros with exact flight details indicating he entered Beijing on Jan. 25 and exited via Shanghai on Jan. 30, Adalin replied the information was “most probably” correct.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo warned Adalin that he could be cited in contempt for being evasive and making a mockery of the court.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo also questioned Adalin on an earlier China trip in November 2018, highlighting allegations that a company linked to Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio received P319 million in inward remittances from China and Hong Kong.

“Not good to hear, if the Filipinos would find out that an official, a high ranking official, is receiving money from China with whom we are in conflict over the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

‘Lying through his teeth’

House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua accused Adalin of lying through his teeth. “We can see that their first witness is a liar, and he even wants to put one over us,” the third district congressman of Manila pointed out.

Adalin sought to establish that a titled property in Davao City was the same property declared in Duterte’s sworn statement of assets, liabilities and net worth. He relied on its barangay location and on matching assessed and fair market values.

For Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, Adalin failed to establish that a property registered under Duterte’s husband was properly disclosed in her SALN.

“What is certain now is that their witness failed miserably in trying to prove to the court and to the people that the Vice President has been consistent with her declaration,” Adiong said at a press conference.

Adiong also questioned the consistency of Adalin’s testimony. “Their witness is inconsistent,” the chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms said.

The disputed records included a P6-million selling-price entry in the electronic Certificate Authorizing Registration and a P10-million acquisition cost reflected in Duterte’s 2024 SALN.

The prosecution also pointed to differences between the property’s description as a lot with improvements and as residential-lot entry presented during the questioning.

Asked by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian how sure he was that the Carpio Matina property is the residential lot declared in Duterte’s SALN, Adalin said he merely based it on the same assessed value of P82,046 as well as on the tax declarations.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said he found it hard to believe the witness’ claim that the Carpio Matina property is the same as that declared in the SALN just based on the deed of sale.

He flagged the witness’ conflicting claims about the property in light of the prosecution’s revelation that the property turned out to be a commercial food establishment.

“Clearly, there are inconsistencies in your testimonies. Forgive me, engineer, but you say one thing and then you say another thing, so we are wondering: ano ba talaga ang totoo sa sinasabi mo?” Pangilinan asked.

At a press briefing after the hearing, defense spokesman Michael Poa said Adalin was able to prove that the property in Davao City was declared in Duterte’s SALN.

“We laid down the facts, we asked the city assessor for his personal opinion, because that is his job, we just leave it to the appreciation of the impeachment court,” Poa said. – With Neil Jayson Servallos, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Bella Cariaso