Senator Robin Padilla on Thursday, November 12, questioned the House prosecution panel’s focus on a witness’s inability to recall details of trips to China during the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
During an interjection, Padilla asked Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon, a member of the prosecution team, if traveling to China was considered an infraction.
Sharing his own experiences, Padilla admitted he struggled to remember specific destinations from his multiple visits to the country, including a trip with former President Rodrigo Duterte.
”Bakit po issue yung pagpunta sa China? Issue po ba yung pagpunta sa China? Kasi po nakailang beses na po akong punta sa China… hindi ko po alam pa rin, matandaan kung saan kami nagpunta,” Padilla said.
Padilla noted that he even had to consult his staff to recall locations from another trip, asking the prosecution panel, “Problema po ba yun pagka hindi mo matandaan kung saan ka nagpunta sa China?”
Ridon clarified that the line of questioning aimed to test the credibility of witness Adalin rather than target trips to China.
According to Ridon, Adalin initially struggled to provide straightforward answers about his travels—such as arriving in Beijing and departing from Shanghai—until senator-judges intervened with details.
“Hindi ho nagiging parang matapat sa harap po ng korteng ito,” Ridon said, confirming the prosecution’s position that the concern was a lack of candor rather than the travel itself.
Padilla countered by citing Presiding Officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s reminder that the court should respect a witness’s genuine inability to recall specific details.
The exchange arose from testimony regarding Adalin’s foreign travels, which included questions about an alleged all-expenses-paid trip to China purportedly sponsored by the Chinese consulate.
While Adalin initially stated he could not remember the trip, he later confirmed traveling to China on January 25 following additional inquiries.