(Screengrab from Senate Livestream)
MANILA — Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin admitted Monday, November 9, that his office had not personally inspected a property in Barangay 74-A allegedly linked to Vice President Sara Duterte, raising questions over the verification of real estate records presented during her impeachment trial.
During the Senate impeachment court hearing, Senator-judge Bam Aquino questioned Adalin on whether personnel from the City Assessor’s Office had physically inspected the property to confirm its location and identity.
Adalin acknowledged that no personal inspection had been conducted.
The admission came as House prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. questioned the witness about the property records and their possible connection to Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
Responding to Tolosa’s questions, Adalin told Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero that the property described in the records could possibly be the same property listed in Duterte’s SALN.
However, the witness stopped short of confirming that the records referred to the same property.
Adalin also said the assessed value and market value of the property were most probably unique, suggesting that the figures could help identify the real estate being examined.
Aquino subsequently proposed that the assessor’s office submit a list of properties to assist the impeachment court in verifying the information.
Adalin agreed to provide the requested documents.
During further questioning, Tolosa presented a photograph of a property located in Barangay 74-A and asked whether it corresponded to the property identified in the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT).
Adalin said he was unsure whether the property shown in the photograph was the same property covered by the land title.
His responses highlighted uncertainties in identifying and verifying the property records being examined by the impeachment court.
The testimony forms part of the defense’s presentation of evidence under Article II of the impeachment complaint against Duterte, which concerns allegations of unexplained wealth.
The prosecution has been examining financial and property records to determine whether assets and transactions linked to the vice president are consistent with her declared wealth.
Adalin’s testimony did not conclusively establish whether the property in Barangay 74-A was the same property declared in Duterte’s SALN.
The impeachment court is expected to consider the additional property records requested during the hearing as it continues examining the evidence presented by both sides.
The allegations against Duterte remain subject to the Senate impeachment court’s evaluation and final determination.
