Samal assessor told to fix city's 'messy' records

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Some senator-judges on Tuesday expressed "confusion" over the existence of two areas in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), where Vice President Sara Duterte had declared a property in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero admitted that he is confused as the deed of sale for Duterte’s Samal property and the field appraisal report of IGACOS city assessor indicated Barangay San Isidro, but the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) noted that the property is in Barangay Matanos.

But city assessor Engr. John Kenneth Enumerables, a witness presented by the defense, said there no such thing as Barangay Matanos in IGACOS.

Senator Judges Risa Hontiveros and Erwin Tulfo also questioned the witness about the location of the subject property.

Escudero clarified that it was not Enumerables who mentioned Matanos, but the Vice President herself did in her SALN.

“To be fair to the witness, it was not the witness who used the name Matanos. It was the Vice President who indicated in her SALN the name of the barangay. The witness has been consistent in referring to the property identified earlier corresponding to TCT ending in 3134, as located in Barangay San Isidro, Kaputian District in IGACOS. He made no mention of Matanos,” the presiding officer said.

The defense witness also said he is unsure if the Samal property acquired by Atty. Manases Carpio, husband of Duterte, in 2013 was the same property declared in the Vice President’s joint SALN with her husband from 2015 onwards.

He confirmed before the impeachment court that the acquisition cost of the said Samal property as stated in the deed of sale is P3.45 million, not P4.04 million as stated in the joint SALN of Duterte and Carpio.

Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” Lacson thus asked Enumerables to fix the city’s property records as it is quite confusing.

“Alam niyo kanina, gusto sana bumili ng lupa ni Senator Lapid sa Samal. Ayaw niya na raw kasi ang gulo ng record ninyo--may Barangay Matanos, wala palang Barangay Matanos. Tapos may San Isidro, ayon pala nasa Matanos,” Lacson quipped.

(You know, earlier, Senator Lapid wanted to purchase some land in Samal. But now, he decided not to because your records are quite confusing—there’s a mention of a Barangay Matanos, but it turns out no such barangay exists. Then there’s San Isidro, which, as it happens, is actually located within Barangay Matanos.)

“So paki-ayos niyo ‘yung record ninyo dahil medyo magulo,” he added.

(So, please fix your records, as they are quite disorganized.)

Enumerables said he would comply with the request of the senator-judge. –VAL, GMA News