Prosecution flags defense witness's 25-day trip to China

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The House prosecution panel on Monday flagged a 25-day trip to China taken by defense witness and Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin last January, saying such a lengthy stay is not normal for a "simple tourist."

House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro of Batangas raised the alarm after Adalin repeatedly dodged questions both from the prosecution and the Senator-judges about his frequent chips to China, including a supposedly all-expenses-paid trip last November.

Luistro said that Adalin was part of a delegation who went to China and stayed there from January 5 to 30 this year.

Luistro said the delegation entered via Beijing and left for Manila from Shanghai.

“Bakit kayo nandoon? Sinong nagbayad niyan? Why this long?” Luistro asked at a post-trial press conference.

(Why were they there? Who paid for that?)

“That’s not normal for a simple tourist na bibisita sa ibang bansa [visiting another country]. Twenty-five days? Hotel accommodations alone in a two-star or three-star hotel could have cost more than P100,000,” Luistro added.

Adalin initially said he could not recall a trip or whether the Chinese government had paid for it.

But amid repeated questioning, Adalin later told the Senate impeachment court that he indeed went to China and paid his own expenses.

“Actually, pina-confirm ko po sa opisina. Indeed, nag-travel po kami sa China,” Adalin said during the questioning of Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo.

(I confirmed it with my office. Indeed, we traveled to China.)

Tulfo also cited that based on Immigration records, Adalin also traveled to Hong Kong, Thailand and Australia.

Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros later asked Adalin if the went to Beijing, Shanghai or Fujian which three major cities in China, but Adalin replied that he does not enjoy traveling that much.

“Actually, I’m not keen on traveling, Your Honor. Kaya hindi ko na mine-memorize ‘yung pinupuntahan,” Adalin said.

(Which is why I didn't memorize the places we have been.)

Hontiveros then shot back “You're not keen on traveling pero nag-travel po kayo?.”

(You are not keen on traveling but you traveled anyway?)

Adalin replied, "yes, you’re correct.” — BM, GMA News

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