SENATOR-JUDGE Risa Hontiveros on Monday asked for a complete list of lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio’s properties in Davao City on Monday after pressing Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s first defense witness over gaps in his recollection of a China trip and questions about property records.
During the impeachment hearing, Hontiveros asked Davao City Assessor Engr. Jaime Adalin to have his office send the records to the court within the hour, or at the latest within the day. Adalin agreed to request the information.
“Please ask them to submit to the court within this hour, at the latest within the day,” Hontiveros said.
The testimony sought to establish disclosure of a disputed Matina Crossing property in Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). The prosecution disputes the proposed match between the property records and the declaration.
Hontiveros first tested Adalin’s recollection of his January 2026 trip to China. After confirming the year, the assessor struggled to name the places he visited or identify who organized the group travel.
“Hindi ko na po talaga ma-remember,” Adalin said when asked to recall even three places.
Hontiveros questioned how an engineer who discussed maps and property locations in court had difficulty recalling destinations visited earlier in the same year.
“Hindi po talaga nakakatawa,” she said.
Adalin described the journey as personal travel with other department heads. Asked whether the travelers paid for their own expenses, he answered yes. He also said Duterte did not accompany them.
“It is actually a personal travel, Your Honor,” Adalin said.
In her second round of questioning, Hontiveros cited information about an alleged January 25 Manila-to-Beijing flight and a January 30 Shanghai-to-Manila return flight. She clarified that the information was based on research and had not yet been verified before asking Adalin whether the details helped refresh his recollection.
“Most probably, Your Honor,” he replied.
Hontiveros then returned to the records needed to examine the defense’s property claim. She asked whether the assessor’s computerized system enabled his office to promptly check Carpio’s other holdings.
“Yes, I will request,” Adalin answered when asked to obtain the full information.
The requested list concerns properties recorded by the assessor’s office. Comparing those records with the SALN would still require identifying which parcel corresponds to each entry. Private prosecutor Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. later maintained the prosecution’s allegation of an undeclared Davao property despite the assessor’s proposed match.
metrosundaily
