Duterte defense presents Samal city assessor as second witness in impeachment trial

The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte presented Island Garden City of Samal Assessor Engr. John Kenneth Enumerables as its second witness during the 41st day of her impeachment trial on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Enumerables took his oath before the Senate impeachment court as defense counsel Atty. Lindon Bacquel began his direct examination.

The defense said Enumerables would testify about the real property covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 142-2019013134, which it claimed was disclosed in Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs).

The defense also sought to establish that the prosecution’s accusation that Duterte failed to disclose the property in her SALNs was “malicious and completely false.”

Enumerables was also presented to identify and authenticate tax declarations and other documents related to the property.

Private prosecutor Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the prosecution was willing to stipulate that Enumerables serves as the city assessor of Samal.

However, Tolosa objected to the defense’s characterization of the prosecution’s allegations as malicious and false.

He argued that, as in the property issue discussed during the previous hearing involving Matina, Davao City, there were significant discrepancies between the property described in the tax declarations and the property listed in the testimony on record.

Tolosa said Enumerables could not establish that the properties were the same, adding that the witness could testify only that they were located in the same barangay.

The defense later moved to strike Tolosa’s remarks from the record, arguing that the prosecutor appeared to be testifying.

Tolosa denied doing so, saying the terms “malicious” and “falsely” came from the defense and that the prosecution had the right to strongly object to those allegations.

“Definitely not and the terms malicious and falsely came from the defense. So, they cannot expect us to take that sitting down and not vehemently object to it,” Tolosa said.

Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero applied the same ruling as in the previous hearing, allowing Tolosa’s manifestation to remain on record, subject to cross-examination.