By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — A Davao City accountant faced intense questioning at the Senate impeachment trial Tuesday after explaining why Vice President Sara Duterte received ₱64,194.72 from the city government in 2023, while senator-judges also pressed her over her past involvement in a private accounting partnership.
Davao City Accountant Vingelin Bajan, the defense’s third witness, said the payment represented salary differentials covering 2020 and 2021, when Duterte was still serving as Davao City mayor.
Bajan explained that the amount resulted from retroactive salary adjustments under the Salary Standardization Law and was released only after the supporting documents were completed.
The explanation drew scrutiny from the prosecution, which questioned the payment’s release in 2023, when Duterte was already vice president and subject to constitutional restrictions on receiving additional government compensation.
Bajan also acknowledged that she had been a partner in a private accounting firm while working for the Davao City government under a job-order arrangement.
She confirmed contributing capital to the firm and eventually acknowledged that her signature appeared on its original partnership documents. However, she struggled to recall details of her participation, including compensation she may have received and the circumstances surrounding her departure in 2015.
Senator-judges questioned her repeated difficulty recalling details. Presiding Officer Francis Escudero reminded her to focus on the documents presented, while Senator Raffy Tulfo raised the possibility of disciplinary action over her responses.
The testimony forms part of the defense’s effort to counter allegations involving Duterte’s wealth, financial transactions and alleged failure to properly disclose assets.
The impeachment court has yet to determine whether the prosecution’s allegations have been established.
ia/xf
