Duterte impeachment trial: Escudero says individuals who lie may face contempt, perjury charges

MANILA — Impeachment trial presiding officer Francis Escudero said Tuesday that individuals who lie before the court could be cited for contempt or face perjury charges.

Escudero made the statement at the start of the proceedings after Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III asked him to “refresh my memory” on the penalties and sanctions that may be imposed on those who lie.

“They may be subject to contempt by the court, Your Honor. In addition to that, [they] may be subjected to cases of perjury should one be filed against them before the proper prosecutor’s office and courts of law,” Escudero said.

“The statements given by any witness are under oath and are therefore covered by our laws on perjury as well,” he said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson also reminded the court of a resolution it had adopted, which expressly grants the impeachment court the power to cite anyone for contempt.

The reminders came after the testimony of Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin, whose statements about a trip to China and a property owned by Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband drew criticism from senator-judges. Sen. Francis Pangilinan even pointed to “inconsistencies” in his testimony.

“Yesterday was not a good day for the impeachment court, Mr. Presiding Officer, simply because we had a witness who smirked, laughed [and] almost made a mockery of the impeach trial, and we don’t want to have a repeat of that kind of testimony,” Lacson said.

On Monday, Adalin initially struggled to answer questions about a trip to China that the prosecution said took place in November 2025 and was sponsored by the Chinese Consulate. He said he could not recall whether the trip had taken place.

However, after checking with his office, Adalin later confirmed a recent travel to China, taking place in January 2026. He was unable to provide further details, including his destinations in China and who had arranged the trip, drawing expressions of disbelief from some senator-judges.

Adalin was presented by the defense as its first witness to address allegations that Duterte had failed to fully disclose her assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), particularly a property in Davao City purchased by her husband, Manases Carpio.