Davao accountant was partner at firm that audited VP-linked companies

MANILA, Philippines – Davao City accountant Vingelin Bajan used to be a partner at the accounting firm that supposedly audited the companies linked to Vice President Sara Duterte, the prosecution showed on Tuesday.

During the cross-examination of Bajan, private prosecutor Atty. Mae Divinagracia asked if she was a partner at Ampil, Elises, Ciudadano & Co. – now, Elises & Ciudadano — a public accounting firm. 

READ: Witness: Duterte’s 2023 pay from Davao was salary differential as mayor

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“Ang pagkaalala ko po ay first job ko po sa Ciudadano,” Bajan said.

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(I remember my first job was at Ciudadano.)

To this, the prosecution showed the articles of partnership of Ampil, Elises, Ciudadano & Co., registered in 2003, before Bajan confirmed being among the undersigned partners. 

Divinagracia then confronted Bajan with General Information Sheets (GIS) of Duterte-linked companies particularly GenCorp Industries Inc., Metro City Chow, Town Timesquare Bee Corp., City Hall King Chow, Chinese Gen Bee, Carpio Lawyer, Davao New Royal Taipan, and Great Jolly Times Food Corp.

Elises & Ciudadano is supposedly the external auditor of the said companies from 2019 as listed in the GIS, but defense counsel Lindon Miguel Bacquel pointed out that Bajan would not be competent to testify on the matter as she withdrew from the firm before then. 

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In 2015, Bajan withdrew from the firm, which became Elises & Ciudadano. She then got appointed as the city accountant in 2016, when Duterte was Davao City mayor.

Bajan said she was unaware of the external audit the firm conducted after she left. /jpv