THE evasive testimony of a Davao City accountant during Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial has raised suspicions that the defense witness was withholding information to protect the Vice President, prompting a stern warning that alleged wrongdoing will eventually be exposed.
Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights and one of the endorsers of Duterte’s impeachment complaint, questioned the conduct of Davao City Accountant Vingelin Bajan, suggesting that her reluctance to answer questions reflected an effort to shield the Vice President from potentially damaging disclosures.
“Miss Bajan answers only shows that she’s too careful to put the vice president in jeopardy. It only means that she herself believes that the VP is guilty as charged!” Abante alleged.
Bajan faced intense questioning during Tuesday’s Senate impeachment hearing after prosecutors presented Securities and Exchange Commission documents identifying her as a former partner of Ampil, Elises, Ciudadano & Co., an accounting firm subsequently associated with the auditing of companies linked to Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio.
“Being too careful in answering questions means she’s hiding something,” Abante maintained.
The accountant initially struggled to confirm whether her signature appeared on the firm’s partnership documents before eventually acknowledging her involvement until 2015, drawing criticism from senator-judges who questioned her difficulty recalling details of her own professional history.
“May I tell the VP … “ be sure your sin will find you out.” This is an excerpt from the Holy Book .” Abante warned.
A longtime pastor and religious leader, Abante invoked Numbers 32:23, a biblical warning about wrongdoing eventually coming to light, as he underscored the importance of truthful testimony in proceedings involving allegations of unexplained wealth and inaccurate financial declarations.
“Alam ninyo, kung wala kang itinatago, bakit ka matatakot sa simpleng tanong? Ang hinihingi lang naman ng impeachment court ay ang katotohanan, at dapat kayang sagutin ng isang testigo ang mga tanong tungkol sa sarili niyang mga dokumento,” Abante stressed.
Bajan was presented by Duterte’s defense to explain a P64,194.72 payment made by the Davao City government to the Vice President in 2023, which she attributed to delayed salary adjustments covering Duterte’s previous service as mayor in 2020 and 2021.
“I have nothing personal against the witness. But when you take an oath before the Senate, you have a responsibility to answer truthfully. Hindi puwedeng piliin mo lang ang mga tanong na gusto mong sagutin, lalo na kung may kinalaman ito sa mga dokumentong makatutulong sa paghahanap ng katotohanan,” Abante emphasized.
The prosecution also examined Bajan’s previous association with the accounting firm in connection with GenCorp Industries Inc., Metro City Chow Foods Corp. and Great Jolly Times Food Corp., whose financial records have figured in the remaining impeachment charge against Duterte, although the accountant’s hesitation alone does not establish wrongdoing by the Vice President.
“Let the evidence speak and let the Senate decide. Pero sana maintindihan ng lahat ng sangkot dito na hindi habang panahon ay maitatago ang katotohanan. You may evade questions today, but sooner or later, the truth will come out,” Abante maintained.
The lawmaker’s remarks came as the Senate impeachment court continued examining defense witnesses and financial documents concerning Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth, with the senator-judges responsible for determining the credibility of the testimony and whether the evidence presented by both sides establishes the remaining charge.
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