Davao accountant testifying for Sara Duterte questioned over audit firm's ties to Carpio firms
Defense witness Vingelin Bajan repeatedly said she could not recall her past with an accounting firm that audits companies linked to the Vice President's husband, Rappler reported.
A Davao City accountant called by Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team faced pointed questioning at the Senate impeachment court over her past ties to an accounting firm that serves as external auditor for companies connected to Duterte's husband, Mans Carpio, according to Rappler.
Vingelin Bajan took the stand on Tuesday, November 10, Day 41 of the impeachment trial, as the defense's second witness. She testified a day after Davao City assessor Jaime Adalin. Rappler noted that the court flagged both witnesses for failing to recall matters connected to their work.
During cross-examination, prosecutor Mae Divinagracia presented documents allegedly showing Bajan's involvement with the Elises and Ciudadano accounting firm, previously known as Ampil, Elises, Ciudadano and Co. These included amended articles of general partnership that supposedly removed Bajan's name from the firm in 2015. Bajan told the court she could not remember the document, though she later confirmed she is no longer with the firm.
Presiding officer Chiz Escudero questioned how she could not recall when she left the firm or whether the document was filed, even with it in front of her. Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo warned that she could be held in contempt if she was unable to answer even basic questions about signatures. Bajan later acknowledged, "Sign ko po ito (This is my signature)."
The prosecution then sought to cast doubt on her credibility by asking whether her former firm was the same one auditing businesses linked to Carpio. According to Rappler, the firm has worked with Gencorp Industries and Metro City Chow Foods, among others.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the firm has been Gencorp's external auditor since 2019 and Metro City Chow's since 2020, and that it also serves as external auditor for Carpio and the Vice President. He said this suggested a connection between the auditing firm and the witness.
Bajan replied that she did not know about it.
Why it matters for Davao
Two Davao City officials have now testified for the Vice President, and the court's scrutiny of their credibility is shaping how the defense case from her home city is being received.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Rappler. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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