Sara Duterte declared 2 Davao City properties in SALN — defense
MANILA, Philippines – The defense team of Sara Duterte insisted on Thursday, October 1, that the Vice President had declared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) the two Davao City properties currently being scrutinized by the prosecution in the impeachment trial.
“Are you saying that the subject properties are all stated in the SALN of the Vice President? Because it seems to be that the prosecution is saying that the subject properties were not declared. Please clarify,” Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo asked in a mix of English and Filipino.
“That is the position, our position: that the properties that the two witnesses [who] testified to today are in fact declared in the SALN of the Vice President,” defense lawyer Lindon Miguel Bacquel said in response.
On the trial’s 32nd day, the House prosecution team presented two witnesses from the Land Registration Authority to prove that Duterte had alleged undeclared properties in her SALN.
Davao City Register of Deeds IV Kathy Florence Baldonado testified that a lot in Matina, Davao City, was sold to the Vice President’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, for P6 million in July 2024. The second witness, Samal City Deputy Register of Deeds III Marco Pineda, testified that Carpio also bought a property on the island for P3 million in 2018.
However, the two properties do not match any of the entries in Duterte’s SALN.
Bacquel said the Matina property was listed as a residential lot in Barangay 74-A, while the other one was listed as a residential lot in Barangay Matanos, Kaputian District.
Before the direct examination of the two witnesses, the defense objected to their presentation. They argued that witnesses must have personal knowledge of the matters they are testifying on.
Bacquel also poked holes in the witnesses’ testimony. During his cross-examination, the defense lawyer elicited that neither Baldonado nor Pineda had personal knowledge of the Vice President’s properties, liabilities, business interests, and net worth listed in her SALN.
“And you cannot testify on the completeness or incompleteness to disclosure in the SALN because you had no personal knowledge, tama po (correct)?” the defense lawyer asked.
“Tama po (Correct),” Baldonado responded.
Reaction on Trillanes
Meanwhile, defense spokesperson Michael Poa, during a press briefing on Thursday, revealed that even the defense was surprised that the prosecution dropped former senator Antonio Trillanes IV from its list of witnesses.
“Actually, we also didn’t expect that. But, as I always say, it’s always a prerogative of the prosecution at this point whom they will call as witnesses, whom they will drop from their list for whatever reason,” Poa said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“But I have to clarify that that’s not an issue. It’s really within their prerogative,” he added.
The defense counsel added they were actually ready to cross-examine Trillanes. He also clarified that they were not “relieved” because of Trillanes’ removal, because the defense was already prepared based on the initial list of witnesses submitted.
“Because it’s really the time of the prosecution now to present their witnesses. So, we really just react to their presentation,” Poa added. – Rappler.com
