LIVE UPDATES: Vice President Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Trial (Day 40)

Today is the 40th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The defense team will present its witnesses before the Senate impeachment court. 

At the center of the upcoming hearings is a list of 24 proposed defense witnesses whose testimonies could shape the direction of the proceedings.

10:36 a.m. – Adalin says he brought the Administrative District Index Map which shows the 11 administrative districts of Davao City.  

Tolosa says they are willing to stipulate if the purpose of the line of questioning regarding the said map is to prove that Barangay 74-A is the same as Barangay Matina Crossing.  

Escudero says Bacquel can go direct to the point since the Prosecution is willing to stipulate.

10:31 a.m. – Trial resumes.

10:27 a.m. – Escudero declares a three-minute recess to give the Defense time to peruse the documents brought by Adalin.

10:22 a.m. – Atty. Lindon Bacquel, counsel for the respondent, says they are presenting Adalin to prove that the property covered in a Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) was disclosed by VP Duterte in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). 

Atty. Benjamin Tolosa, Jr, counsel for the panel of Prosecutors, says the witness cannot prove that the property in the SALN is the same property covered in the TCT. He says there is a “glaring discrepancy” between the two, specifically on the acquisition value.

10:13 a.m. – The Defense proceeds in presenting its first witness for today. Engr. Jaime Adalin, City Assessor of Davao City, is called to the witness stand.

10:12 a.m. – Escudero also confirms that Defense witness Atty. Suzette Balucanag-Punay — Corporate Counsel of GenCorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corporation — will be presented tomorrow, November 10, as she needs to undergo MRI examination today.

10:09 a.m. – Senator-Judge and Presiding Officer Francis Escudero clarifies that no subpoena was issued for former Dean Ralph Sarmiento, the supposed first witness of the Defense, who declined their invitation.

10:03 a.m. – Quorum is declared with 14 Senator-Judges present.

10 a.m. – Day 40 of the impeachment trial begins. Senator-judge Juan Miguel Zubiri leads the prayer.