(Screengrab from Senate livestream)
MANILA – The city assessor of the Island Garden City of Samal admitted Tuesday that his office relied on Google Earth and tax mapping records, rather than a physical inspection, to determine whether a 751-square-meter property owned by Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband had existing structures.
During Duterte’s impeachment trial, City Assessor John Kenneth Enumerables told Senator-Judge Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan that his office was unable to conduct an on-site inspection because it had not secured permission from the property owner.
“Kasi hindi po kami makapasok doon kung walang pahintulot po ng may-ari,” Enumerables said.
Enumerables, the defense’s second witness, was presented to testify on tax declarations and mapping records involving a property registered under lawyer Manases Carpio in the Kembali Coast development on Samal Island.
Pangilinan questioned whether the property had any improvements, including buildings or other structures that should have been reflected in its real property assessment.
Enumerables said the property had no recorded improvements based on existing tax mapping documents and satellite images obtained through Google Earth.
However, when asked whether his office had actual photographs of the property, the assessor acknowledged that its findings were based on online imagery and available government records.
Pangilinan raised concerns over the reliability of the assessment, noting that the absence of a physical inspection could prevent the assessor’s office from determining the property’s actual condition.
Enumerables maintained that the city’s tax mapping records showed no improvements on the property.
The exchange came as the Senate impeachment court examined whether the property covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 142-2019013134 had been properly disclosed in Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
The defense maintained that the property was already declared in the Vice President’s SALN, while House prosecutors questioned whether the land title and the SALN entry referred to the same parcel of land.
The Samal property is among the assets under scrutiny in Article II, the remaining impeachment charge involving allegations of unexplained wealth against Duterte.
The defense continues to challenge the prosecution’s allegations as the impeachment proceedings move forward.
