Senator-judge Robin Padilla on Thursday questioned the prosecution’s line of questioning regarding a defense witness’s trip to China during the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, asking whether the trip itself was an issue.
The matter arose after defense witness Jaime Adalin, Davao City assessor, initially said he could not recall traveling to China but later acknowledged making the trip.
Padilla said he had also visited China several times, including once with former President Rodrigo Duterte, but could no longer remember the specific places they had visited.
“Bakit po isyu 'yung pagpunta sa China? Issue po ba ‘yung pagpunta sa China? Kasi po nakailang beses na po akong punta sa China. Noong isang beses, kasama ko po ang dating Pangulong Digong Duterte. Hindi ko pa rin matandaan saan kami nagpunta. Problema po ba 'yun kung hindi mo matandaan kung saan ka nagpunta sa China,” Padilla asked during the day 43 of the impeachment proceedings.
House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon clarified that the prosecution was not questioning the witness’s travel to China but was examining his credibility based on his responses during questioning.
“'Yun pong pagtatanong patungkol sa China ay bahagi po ng pagte-test ng kredibilidad po nung testigo,” Ridon said.
He added that the prosecution’s concern was whether Adalin had been truthful before the impeachment court.
“Yung pagpunta wala po, pero ang malaking usapin po, hindi ho nagiging parang matapat sa harap po ng korteng ito. Yun po ang posisyon ng prosekusyon,” Ridon said in response to Padilla’s follow-up question on whether traveling to China was an issue.
Padilla, however, pointed out that witnesses should also be given consideration when they say they cannot remember certain details.
“Pero kakasabi lang po ng ating tagapamahalang hukom na kailangan din po natin sigurong galangin 'yung mga sinasabi ng ating mga saksi kapag hindi po nila matandaan at 'yun naman po talaga ay karapatan po nila,” Padilla said.
