Aquino presses Davao City witnesses on property, finance records at Duterte trial

Senator-Judge Bam Aquino pressed defense witnesses for clearer answers on property and financial disclosures during Days 40 to 42 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Edge Davao. Two of the witnesses were officials of Davao City.

The defense opened its presentation of evidence on Day 40 with its first witness, Engr. Jaime "Jimmy" Galinero Adalin, the Davao City Assessor. Edge Davao reported that Adalin described how the City Assessor's Office runs, including its upkeep of official tax maps and real property assessment rolls. The defense offered his testimony to show his personal knowledge of local tax declarations and to counter allegations about property disclosures.

In hearings on real estate linked to the Vice President and Mans Carpio, Aquino called for a complete, itemized count to address discrepancies between Registry of Deeds records and the Vice President's Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). He cited confusion over properties in Davao City, Samal and Barangay 74-A, and said land holdings can be counted and verified. "Mabibilang mo yung dami ng lupa," he said, noting that land can be counted.

Aquino said that once Register of Deeds data on the properties is formally submitted to the Clerk of Court, it should be compared directly with the filed SALNs to determine whether any properties are missing or mismatched. He added that senator-judges are not supposed to do the work of the defense or prosecution.

On Day 41, Aquino questioned Davao City Accountant Vingelin Bajan on whether she was an active participant or only a partner in name in an auditing firm tied to prominent companies, according to the report. He told her that the way she was answering made it appear she was hiding something, and said the questions were not difficult.

On Day 42, defense witness Atty. Suzette Balucanag-Punay was asked by Aquino to explain varying monthly figures for funds linked to the Vice President and whether payments stopped in 2025. Edge Davao reported that she said she could not confirm whether any payments continued into 2026. Aquino then challenged the basis of the figures she presented. "Pumunta ka dito with these numbers? Di mo alam kung paano na kuha yung mga numero?" he asked.

The trial continues.