Davao City accountant's evasive testimony draws contempt warnings at Duterte trial

Davao City accountant Vingelin Bajan drew sharp rebukes from senator-judges on Tuesday, November 10, after giving what they described as evasive answers during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Rappler.

Bajan, the third defense witness to take the stand, was questioned by House private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia about her past role as a partner at the accounting firm Ampil, Elises, Ciudadano, and Co. She repeatedly said she could not remember being a partner. When shown the firm's Articles of Partnership and Amended Articles of Partnership, she acknowledged that the documents carried her tax account number and signatures resembling hers but said she could not recall signing them. Divinagracia also pointed out that Bajan appeared to look toward the defense team while considering her answers.

"I can't recall all of these documents…. But this is my tax account number and signatures," Bajan said.

The firm, which has since been renamed, served as external auditor of Gencorp Industries Incorporated and Metro City Chow Foods Inc., two companies linked to the Vice President. Senator-judge Win Gatchalian said the firm also audits the Vice President and her husband, Manases Carpio.

Presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero told Bajan sternly, "My patience is wearing thin, forgive me." Senator-judge Lito Lapid said the senators had been asking questions for most of the day with hardly any answers. Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo raised the possibility of citing witnesses in contempt, saying they appeared to show no respect for the court.

Under pressure, Bajan eventually admitted she had been part of the firm and said she had forgotten leaving it in 2015. Senator-judge Joel Villanueva noted that the amended partnership papers included her own signed affidavit of withdrawal.

The exchange came a day after Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin, another defense witness, initially lied about a trip to China. Senator-judges Vicente Sotto III and Panfilo Lacson had earlier asked the court to remind witnesses of penalties for lying under oath, with Lacson citing Senate Resolution No. 39 on the court's contempt powers. Island Garden City of Samal assessor John Kenneth Enumerables testified without drawing any contempt warning, Rappler reported.