Davao accountant can’t confirm own signature, tests senator-judges’ patience

IMPEACHMENT TRIAL. The Senate impeachment court in session for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

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The soft-spoken Vingelin Bajan elicits warnings of contempt as she evades questions on her former affiliation with the auditing firm that has among its clients Sara Duterte-linked companies, the Vice President, and husband Mans Carpio

AT A GLANCE

• The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte faced challenges as witnesses, including Davao City accountant Vingelin Bajan, provided evasive answers, frustrating senator-judges.
• Bajan's testimony raised concerns about her credibility, leading to calls from senator-judges for stricter adherence to court protocols and potential contempt citations.

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At the resumption of Vice President Sara Duterte‘s impeachment trial on Monday, November 9, senator-judges had to contend with what the prosecution called a “rude awakening” in the person of Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin, the defense witness who initially lied about a trip to China.

With that incident still fresh on the minds of senator-judges, two of them, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, on Tuesday, November 10, asked the impeachment court to remind witnesses of the penalties they face if they lie under oath. It was fair warning for all other witnesses of the trial, which Escudero would repeat every time a new witness took the stand.

Engineer John Kenneth Enumerables, city assessor of the Island Garden City of Samal, seemed to have heeded the reminder, and his testimony did not elicit any contempt warning. But then came the third defense witness, Davao City accountant Vingelin Bajan.

At one point, the usually jovial presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero expressed frustration and said in a stern tone that his patience was “wearing thin” over Bajan’s “evasive” responses to the prosecution’s questions.

“My patience is wearing thin, forgive me,” Escudero told Bajan, as she directed her to respond to questions.

What was Bajan being evasive about? In challenging her credibility, House private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia asked the city accountant about her previous employment as a partner of the Ampil, Elises, Ciudadano, and Co. accounting firm. 

Bajan repeatedly said she could not remember working as a partner of the firm. Confronted with documents bearing her own signatures, Bajan appeared confused, saying the Articles of Partnership and Amended Articles of  Partnership, indeed, contained her tax account number and signatures similar to hers, but still could not recall signing them.

She was also seen looking at the defense team as she thought of what to say, which Divinagracia called out.

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

Ampil, Elises, Ciudadano, and Co. — now Elises & Cuidadano — served as the external auditor of Gencorp Industries Incorporated and Metro City Chow Foods Inc., two companies linked to Duterte. Senator-judge Win Gatchalian said in his interjection later in the trial that the company is also the external auditor of the Vice President and her husband, Manases Carpio.

Frustration among the senator-judges was so strong that even Senator-judge Lito Lapid stood up to manifest what he thought about her testimony as well, saying: “Naawa na ako sa inyo. Kaming dalawa ni Sen Lacson…. Sa haba-haba nang halos maghapon na tanong ng mga senator-judge, halos hindi ‘nyo nasasagot.” 

(I pity you. Both of us, Senator Lacson and I…. The senator-judges have been asking for hours and you hardly gave any answers.)

Bajan’s answers triggered senator-judges, who were already impatient following their experience with another Davao City official — Adalin — the past day.

“Yesterday, the witness was laughing and today, this witness is being evasive. Should we cite them in contempt to respect the impeachment court? Because as I see it, they have no respect for us,” said Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo.

“Maybe, it’s about that time we provide them as an example,” Tulfo added. 

After being pressed by senator-judges, the city accountant admitted to being part of the firm. She likewise said she had forgotten leaving the firm in 2015.

However, Senator-judge Joel Villanueva countered her statement, emphasizing that the Amended Articles of  Partnership included her signed affidavit of withdrawal. 

“We’re practicing utmost patience with you. I hope you’ll help us help you,” said Villanueva. 

The Senate impeachment court has repeatedly reminded witnesses against dodging questions during the trial.

Earlier in the day, Senator-judge Sotto inquired about the possible sanctions for witnesses lying under oath, with Senator-judge Lacson citing Senate Resolution No. 39, establishing the court’s contempt powers. 

“Yesterday was not a good day for the impeachment court, Mr. President, Mr. Presiding Officer, simply because we had a witness who smirked, who laughed, almost made a mockery of the impeachment trial,” Lacson said.

 “We don’t want to have a repeat of that kind of testimony,” he added.

Will the other witnesses finally heed the warning? – Rappler.com