Tulfo questions scope of property records in Duterte impeachment trial
MANILA – Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo on Thursday questioned a Land Registration Authority (LRA) witness about the number of properties involving Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, as the Senate impeachment court continued hearing allegations concerning the Vice President’s wealth.
Tulfo asked Atty. Kathy Florence Baldonado, Register of Deeds IV of the Davao City Regional Center, how many properties belonging to the couple were under discussion.
“Gaano karami po ang property na pinag-uusapan natin dito ng mag-asawa? Gaano karami ito?” Tulfo asked.
“Hindi ko po alam,” Baldonado replied.
Tulfo then pressed the witness on which property she had been called to identify.
“Hindi mo rin alam. Eh ano ‘yung pinag-uusapan natin dito? Anong property po ito? Isa lang?” he asked.
“Base po sa subpoena po, ito lang po ang pina-identify po sa akin,” Baldonado responded.
Baldonado was among the land registry officials called to testify on Day 32. Before the hearing, she was expected to testify regarding a property in Matina allegedly connected to Carpio. A second land registry official, Marco Pineda of the Island Garden City of Samal, was called regarding a separate property registered in Carpio’s name. GMA Network
The testimony forms part of the prosecution’s presentation under Article II of the impeachment complaint, which alleges that Duterte failed to fully disclose her and her spouse’s assets, liabilities and net worth. The allegations are contested and remain subject to the impeachment court’s evaluation of the evidence.
