ANC: Senator-judges grill Davao City accountant over evasive answers in VP impeachment trial

Senator-judges repeatedly reprimanded Davao City accountant Vingelin Bajan on Tuesday over what they described as evasive answers during the 41st day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, particularly on her former partnership in a Davao-based accounting firm.

The proceedings revealed that Bajan had been a partner of Ampil, Elises, Ciudadano and Co. from 2003 to 2015. The firm was where she first worked after graduation and where she was recruited by her former teacher, Thelma Ciudadano, in 2003.

Ciudadano was appointed vice chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.

Bajan initially struggled to answer questions from the prosecution and senator-judges about whether she had been a partner in the firm, with Senate President Francis Escudero pointing out that the firm’s registration documents listed her as having contributed capital.

Prosecutor Mae Divinagracia also questioned Bajan’s apparent reluctance to confirm the firm’s year of registration.

Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo warned that the proceedings could stretch until early morning if Bajan continued to avoid answering questions, while Senator Lito Lapid said her failure to give direct responses was frustrating both the senator-judges and the public watching the trial.

Bajan eventually confirmed that she had been a partner from 2003 until 2015, when her name was removed from the firm’s articles of partnership.

That was a year before she was appointed acting city accountant of Davao City, when Duterte was still the city’s mayor.

The prosecution also asked whether the accounting firm had served as external auditor for several companies, including GenCorp, Metro City Chow, Timesquare B, Cityhall King Chow, Chinese Gen B, Carpio Lawyers, Davao New Royal Taipan and Great Jollitimes Food Corporation.

Bajan said she could no longer remember.

But Senator-judge Joel Villanueva later presented her 2015 affidavit of withdrawal from the partnership. The document stated that she was resigning from the partnership effective August 1, 2015, citing personal reasons.

Villanueva questioned how Bajan could not recall the document, which bore her signature and was part of official records. Bajan apologized and acknowledged the affidavit.

Bajan’s December 2025 trip to China was also raised during the hearing. She maintained that it was a personal trip with friends.

The witness was also questioned about an additional P64,000 in income declared by Duterte in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Bajan described the amount as overdue salary adjustments owed to the Vice President by the Davao City government.

She explained that salary increases under the Salary Standardization Law for 2020 and 2021 had not been released on time. The supporting documents for the adjustments were completed only in 2023, she said.

Asked by defense lawyer Lindon Bacquel whether the amount came from any service or professional practice Duterte performed while serving as Vice President, Bajan answered no.

Despite the senator-judges’ questions about the witness’s credibility, Duterte’s spokespersons maintained that the additional income had been properly documented and declared.

Spokesperson Paolo Panelo said the amount was legal, reflected in the Vice President’s SALN and supported by complete documents. He also maintained that the prosecution’s case remained weak.

Defense spokesperson Michael Poa, meanwhile, said the defense was focused on the documentary evidence and testimony but had no objection to having witnesses’ credibility examined.

House prosecutor Terry Ridon suggested Bajan may have been hesitant to answer questions because of the criticism she could face upon returning to Davao City.

Ridon said witnesses would have to return to their families and continue working at city hall under Mayor Sebastian Duterte, the Vice President’s brother.

Meanwhile, the defense declined to disclose its strategy following Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo’s suggestion that the Vice President herself be summoned to explain issues concerning her SALN.

Poa said the defense had a plan and that any move it made would be in the best interest of its client.

The defense is set to present lawyer Suzette Punay, an officer of GenCorp, as a witness on Wednesday.

The planned presentation of the Matina Crossing barangay captain was postponed after it was reportedly established that the Vice President’s SALN referred to only one barangay. – ANC, The World Tonight, November 10, 2026