(Screengrab from Senate livestream)
MANILA — Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin faced questions over his credibility during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, November 9, after struggling to provide a definite answer about an alleged trip to China in 2025.
Adalin, who appeared as the first witness for Duterte’s defense, drew scrutiny from senator-judges after failing to clearly confirm or deny whether he had traveled to China last year.
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo warned Adalin that he could be cited in contempt if he failed to provide truthful and straightforward answers before the Senate impeachment court.
The exchange raised concerns among senator-judges about the reliability of the witness’s testimony, particularly as the court examined evidence related to Duterte’s declared assets and properties.
Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III suggested obtaining Adalin’s travel records from the Bureau of Immigration to independently verify whether he had left the country in 2025.
The proposed verification would allow the impeachment court to compare the witness’s statements with official immigration records.
Adalin’s appearance came as Duterte’s defense began presenting evidence in response to Article II of the impeachment complaint, which concerns allegations of unexplained wealth.
Earlier in the proceedings, Adalin was questioned about a property in Barangay 74-A, Davao City, allegedly linked to the Vice President.
He acknowledged that his office had not personally inspected the property and could not definitively confirm whether a photograph presented by the prosecution matched the property identified in a Transfer Certificate of Title.
The prosecution has questioned whether certain properties linked to Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, were properly disclosed in the Vice President’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
The defense maintains that the disputed Matina property was declared in Duterte’s SALNs.
The questions surrounding Adalin’s alleged foreign travel added another issue to the court’s examination of his testimony.
No contempt citation or finding that Adalin had given false testimony was established in the information available from the hearing.
The Senate impeachment court continues to hear evidence and testimony as it evaluates the remaining charge against Duterte.
