THE testimony of a defense witness during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial drew strong frustration from Senator Erwin Tulfo on Monday, as he pressed for clear and direct responses regarding properties and financial records at the center of the sole remaining charge of unexplained wealth.
During the cross‑examination, Tulfo repeatedly expressed irritation at what he described as evasive and vague answers from the witness, who had been presented to confirm that certain real estate holdings were properly declared in Duterte’s official Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
Tulfo pointed out glaring discrepancies between the acquisition values listed in the transfer certificates of title and the amounts reflected in the Vice President’s public disclosures. He noted that the witness was unable to reconcile the differences, confirm whether specific properties matched those listed, or produce additional documents that could clarify the inconsistencies.
“You are not answering the question directly,” Tulfo remarked at one point, emphasizing that the public deserved straightforward facts rather than ambiguous or technical responses.
The exchange underscored the tension surrounding the defense’s first day of presentations, as the panel sought to counter prosecution evidence linking Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, to assets valued in the hundreds of millions of pesos that were allegedly never declared. The Senate Impeachment Court, presided over by Senator Francis Escudero, continues to hear arguments, with the defense scheduled to call additional witnesses in the coming days.
metrosundaily
