Day 40 of Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: Defense Witness Undermines Prosecution’s “Unexplained Wealth” Allegations

Day 40 of Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: Defense Witness Undermines Prosecution’s “Unexplained Wealth” Allegations

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | November 10, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its 40th day on Monday, November 9, witnessing a pivotal moment as the defense presented its initial witness, directly challenging the core of the “unexplained wealth” accusation. The proceedings, which resumed after a nearly month-long recess, saw the defense’s first witness deliver an unrehearsed and uncoached account that significantly countered the prosecution’s claims.

Davao City Assessor Engr. Jaime Adalin took the stand as the defense’s opening witness. His testimony aimed to definitively refute the prosecution’s assertion that a 379-square-meter property in Matina Crossing, Davao City, owned by Duterte’s husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, was deliberately omitted from Vice President Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). Defense counsel Lindon Bacquel asserted that Adalin’s testimony, supported by authentic tax declarations, would expose the prosecution’s claim as “malicious and completely false.”

In a dramatic cross-examination, prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. pressed Adalin, questioning how he could definitively link the Carpio property to Duterte’s SALN given the alleged lack of specific identifying details within the SALN itself. Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo intensified the scrutiny, accusing Adalin of perjury during his pointed line of questioning.

Despite the compelling initial testimony, the defense faced minor procedural hurdles. Two witnesses originally slated for Monday’s session failed to appear. Former defense witness Dean Ralph Sarmiento cited personal reasons for his withdrawal, while lawyer Suzette Balucanag-Punay, corporate counsel for GenCorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corp., requested an excuse due to a scheduled MRI procedure.

Defense spokesperson Michael Poa expressed confidence that subsequent witnesses would appear, emphasizing the reliance on court-issued subpoenas to ensure attendance. The defense is scheduled to present Samal City Assessor Engr. John Kenneth Enumerables on Tuesday, who is expected to testify on another property linked to Duterte and Carpio in the Island Garden City of Samal.

The overarching question of whether Vice President Duterte herself will testify remains a subject of speculation. Defense counsel Michael Poa indicated it was “too early to discuss,” noting that the defense has been allocated 30 trial days for its presentation of evidence.

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