WRAP: Defense explains Samal property, 2023 payment from Davao City

MANILA — The defense’s second witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial was John Kenneth Enumerables, city assessor of the Island Garden City of Samal, who testified that she declared land registered to her husband Manases in that city in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

Like Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin on Monday, Enumerables came armed with city records, but senator-judges flagged a mismatch between the entries in the wealth declaration and the city records. 

This prompted the prosecution to insist that it was not the property that was declared. The defense pushed back, but the disagreement over the mismatched locations lingered. 

Enumerables explained mismatches like that are common.

Discrepancies on the values and the sale dates were also flagged. 

Sen. Francis Escudero, presiding officer, noted that the land was purchased by installment and declared after the property was fully paid.

Escudero’s point was that acquisition costs may have discrepancies, but that does not necessarily indicate irregularity.

The defense explained acquisition cost does not only cover purchase cost but Escudero noted the amount would still be too high.

The disagreement was not resolved, so the defense challenged the prosecution to just show the supposedly undeclared property.

Next on the witness stand was Davao City Accountant Vingelin Bajan, who was presented to answer allegations Duterte still got paid as city mayor even when she was vice president, violating the rule against double compensation.

The Defense’s position, and Bajan’s testimony, was that the money was salary differential from the staggered implementation of the Salary Standardization Law. 

Sen. Raffy Tulfo however flagged some erasures in the documents and asked why it took years for the release of the differential.

For most of Tuesday afternoon, senator-judges grilled Bajan on her being a partner at the Ampil, Elises Ciudadano and Co., CPAs accounting firm from 2003 to 2015. 

Bajan could not an answer basic questions about her engagement with the firm, saying she could not recall details because that was a long time ago.

Tuesday’s hearing began with a warning from senators that witnesses risk being held in contempt for lying or making a mockery of the proceedings after Adalin’s testimony on Monday that saw him smirking and making side comments.

Escudero added Adalin had yet to comply with his commitment to submit records on all land holdings of the Duterte-Carpio couple, as well as the name of the travel agency that handled a 2025 trip to China that he could not give details about.

The defense also flagged private prosecutors for media statements it said violated rules against trial participants litigating their case in the media. 

The prosecution acknowledged the defense’s right to raise the issue but added the respondent has also made remarks that allegedly violated the same rule.

Escudero told media that he hopes the trial concludes before yearend but clarified they are not bound by timelines as that will depend on the defense’s presentation.