Defense drops Matina Crossing barangay captain as witness

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense panel on Tuesday withdrew as a witness Matina Crossing Barangay Capt. Cindy Colina.

Colina’s testimony was supposed to cover documents related to the official name of Brgy. Matina Crossing in Talomo, Davao City.

“We will no longer present the fifth witness in our list, Cindy Colina, the Punong Barangay of Matina Crossing… This is without prejudice to any subsequent motion that we will make on the court’s taking judicial notice of the geographical divisions with respect to the subject barangays,” lead defense counsel Atty. Sheila Sison told the court. 

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READ: Assessor quizzed: Why confirm property when VP’s SALN has no details?

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To recall, a property owned by Duterte’s spouse, or Atty. Manases Carpio, was listed in the vice president’s statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth as located in Brgy. 74-A, but is Matina Crossing in its tax declaration.

This was among the properties the prosecution claimed Duterte wrongfully declared.

But the defense’s first witness, Davao City assessor Engr. Jaime Adalin, explained that 74-A and Matina Crossing are the same barangay. /mr