(Screengrab from Senate livestream)
MANILA – Several senator-judges expressed frustration Tuesday over the testimony of the defense’s third witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial after she struggled to confirm her signature and recall details of her former accounting partnership despite being presented with official documents.
Davao City accountant Vingelin Bajan drew warnings from Senator-Judges Raffy Tulfo, Francis Pangilinan and Joel Villanueva after repeatedly saying she could not remember details of an accounting firm she joined in 2003 and withdrew from in 2015.
“Patikman kaya natin ma-contempt mga ‘to. Nang sa gayon magkaroon ng respeto sa Impeachment Court,” Tulfo said, suggesting that witnesses who repeatedly give evasive answers could face contempt proceedings.
Tulfo compared Bajan’s testimony with that of Davao City assessor Jaime Adalin, the defense’s first witness, who also faced criticism from senator-judges during Monday’s hearing.
He emphasized that witnesses must recognize the seriousness of impeachment proceedings and warned that continued evasiveness could result in sanctions.
The exchange began when prosecutors presented documents showing Bajan’s membership in an accounting partnership established in 2003.
Bajan initially struggled to identify her signature on the original articles of partnership, prompting Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero to repeatedly ask for a direct response.
Pangilinan intervened, pointing out that the witness was being asked a straightforward question concerning her signature and taxpayer identification number.
“We are wondering why she refuses to answer. And there is a tax account number. So, is that her signature? Is that her tax account number? And it can only be answered by yes or no,” Pangilinan said.
“We find this unacceptable,” he added.
Bajan eventually confirmed that the signature belonged to her but continued to express difficulty recalling details of the partnership’s amended registration in 2015.
Escudero warned the witness that the impeachment court could compel her to provide answers.
“My patience is wearing thin,” he told Bajan.
Villanueva later presented an affidavit of withdrawal dated August 2015, indicating that Bajan had resigned from the accounting partnership effective Aug. 1, 2015, citing personal reasons.
He questioned why the accountant could not readily recall her withdrawal despite the existence of a document bearing the relevant details.
“We’re practicing utmost patience to you. I hope you help us help you,” Villanueva said.
Bajan apologized to the senator-judges and maintained that she had difficulty remembering the transactions because they had taken place more than a decade earlier.
