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

MANILA, Philippines — A defense witness testified in court that the more than P64,000 in compensation Vice President Sara Duterte received from the Davao City government in 2023 represented a salary differential for the time when she served as mayor in 2020 to 2021.

She clarified that the fund was not payment for another service or practice of profession.

City Accountant Vinjelin Bajan of Davao City made these statements on Tuesday as she took the witness stand on the 41st day of Duterte’s impeachment trial.

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Her appearance comes as the defense sought to counter the prosecution’s allegation that the vice president received double compensation while serving as the country’s second-highest official.

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The prosecution had previously raised the payment during the testimony of Bureau of Internal Revenue official Anne Loraine Garcia-Marquez on Oct. 8.

At the time, Garcia-Marquez confirmed that a BIR Form 2316 under Duterte’s name indicated that she received compensation income from the Davao City government for taxable year 2023.

She also confirmed that the BIR issued a letter of authority to Duterte, but declined to disclose further details, citing confidentiality.

The defense maintained that the prosecution’s accusation that Duterte received double compensation while serving as vice president was “malicious, baseless and completely false.”

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Bajan maintained that the P64,194.72 represented salary differentials owed to Duterte.

It comprised of P31,718.64 salary differential for January to December 2020 and a P32,476.08 salary differential for January to December of 2021, when she was still serving as Davao City mayor.

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The payment is pursuant to a salary standardization law that subjected all Davao City government employees in 2019 to salary adjustments.

Bajan was then asked by defense counsel Lindon Miguel Bacquel during his direct examination why the differentials were only released in 2023.

“The check was issued January 10, 2023… The documents were only completed in 2023, and we cannot make a release unless the supporting documents are complete,” Bajan explained.

“The 64,194.72, where did this come from?” Bacquel then asked.

“From salary differentials,” Bajan answered.

“So, this amount, you say came from the vice president’s term as mayor?” Bacquel asked further.

Bajan answered in the affirmative. 

“So this is not from any service or practice of profession that she did while she was vice president?” Bacquel asked again.

“It is not,” Bajan answered.

Prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia objected to Bacquel’s line of questioning, but Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero allowed it “for brevity.”

Escudero, meanwhile, reminded Bacquel to be more cautious with his questions.

Duterte is being accused of amassing unexplained wealth and not fully and truthfully disclosing all her assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

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It is also being alleged that she failed to divest her business interests during her tenure as vice president. /apl