PROSECUTION adviser and former Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers said Vice President Sara Duterte’s first defense witness failed to answer the prosecution’s questions convincingly on Monday, describing the opening defense presentation as a failure.
Barbers, adviser and spokesperson of the House impeachment team, made the assessment at the November 9 post-trial press conference after Davao City Assessor Engr. Jaime G. Adalin completed his testimony.
“Para sa akin, the defense presentation actually failed,” Barbers said.
The witness had been called to identify local assessment documents and to support the defense’s claim that a disputed Davao property was disclosed in Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
The prosecution challenged the asserted connection between the title and the declaration.
Barbers disputed the account’s credibility.
“Yung witness ay nagbigay ng incredible testimony,” he said.
His criticism centered on the witness’ manner of answering questions about the records.
Prosecutors compared the selling-price figure in the transfer document with the acquisition cost read from the SALN and asked how the property descriptions corresponded.
“Klarong-klarong that he was very evasive,” Barbers said.
Adalin had cited the barangay location and matching assessed and fair market values as his basis for identifying the parcel.
Further questioning examined whether those values were unique and whether the available information established the match with certainty.
Senator-judges also asked about photographs, the basis for classifying land and buildings, and the witness’ travel.
Adalin distinguished actual use from appearance and later explained his familiarity with a photograph that did not show the restaurant’s business sign.
Barbers said the testimony had worked against the defense’s effort to rebut the prosecution’s evidence.
His conclusion was directed at the first witness’ performance during the opening defense session.
“In this first day of their presentation, their witness actually failed them,” Barbers noted.
The court heard both the defense’s explanation of its documents and the prosecution’s challenges before excusing Adalin.
The identity of the parcel referenced in the disputed SALN entry remained contested, with additional property records requested during questioning.
Barbers also criticized the value of the legal team’s opening presentation, linking his remarks about the witness to the defense’s preparation.
“Sayang ang bayad ng ating VP sa mga abogadong ito,” Barbers added.
metrosundaily
