Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin faced intense scrutiny and warnings of contempt from senator-judges on Monday after private prosecutors exposed stark discrepancies regarding a property declared by Vice President Sara Duterte in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
During cross-examination, Adalin admitted to private prosecutor Jay Tolosa that the acquisition cost of a property in Brgy. Matina Crossing (Brgy. 74-A), Davao City—purchased by the Vice President’s husband, Manases Carpio, under TCT 146-2024-010775—was listed as ₱10 million in Duterte’s 2024 SALN. However, the corresponding Certificate Authorizing Registration (CAR) indicated a total selling price of only ₱6 million.
Adalin noted that the tax declaration for the specific lot was not attached to the Vice President’s SALN, leaving him uncertain if the documents referred to the exact same property.
The defense witness faced further grilling when Tolosa presented a photograph of “Prime Bistro,” a commercial establishment operating on the lot in question, challenging its classification as a residential lot.
Adalin claimed he could not verify if the photo depicted the declared property.
He added that he had not checked if the couple owned other assets in the same barangay, though he expressed readiness to provide those details if available.
Tensions flared when Tolosa questioned Adalin about an all-expenses-paid trip to China in November 2025. Adalin laughed and responded that he could not remember the trip.
The laughter drew immediate ire from the impeachment court. Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo sternly warned the city assessor to take his testimony seriously or face being cited for contempt.
“Parang niloloko tayo ng testigong ito,” Tulfo remarked.
Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo echoed the sentiment, accusing the witness of “lying through his teeth” given that the photograph clearly displayed a restaurant standing on a lot declared as a residential property by VP Sara and Carpio. # (RRN)
