How Sara Duterte witness is linked to auditor of Mans Carpio’s firms

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team brought Davao City accountant Vingelin Bajan as their second witness for her trial. She testified on Tuesday, November 10, a day after Davao City assessor Jaime Adalin.

But coming from Davao City is not the only common denominator between the two officials. They were also both flagged by the impeachment court for failing to recall things connected — either directly or indirectly — to their job.

Both the senator-judges and the prosecution grilled Bajan over her ties to the Elises and Ciudadano accounting firm (formerly known as Ampil, Elises, Ciudadano and Co.) Prosecutor Mae Divinagracia showed documents supposedly showing Bajan’s involvement with the firm.

At one point, Divinagracia showed a copy of amended articles of general partnership that supposedly removed the accountant’s name from the firm in 2015, but Bajan said she could not recall anything.

“Hindi ko na maalala (I could no longer remember),” said the accountant. “Hindi ko po ma-remember, your honor (I could not remember). Sorry.”

Bajan later confirmed that she’s no longer part of the firm but still insisted that she no longer remembers the document being presented to her.

“Miss Evan, parte kayo ng accounting firm, hindi ‘nyo maalala kung kailan kayo umalis o kung finile po ‘yan? Nasa harap ‘nyo na po ‘yong dokumento?” presiding officer Chiz Escudero asked. (Miss Evan, you are part of the accounting firm, you cannot remember when you left or if that document was filed? Even if the document is already in front of you?)

Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo then interjected and said he fears for Bajan because of her failure to answer the questions directed at her.

“Kung ngayon pa nga lang, sa signature pa nga lang, hindi mo na kayang sagutin, ‘yon pa kayang mahihirap na katanungan later on? Baka ma-contempt ka,” warned Tulfo. (If we’re only talking about signatures and you cannot answer already, what more with the harder questions later on? You might be held in contempt.)

“Sign ko po ito (This is my signature), your honor,” said Bajan later on.

After establishing Bajan’s link to the firm, the prosecution proceeded to the point of its cross-examination — to cast doubt on the witness’ credibility.

Divinagracia pressed Bajan to confirm whether the auditing firm she previously worked for was the same firm that served as external auditor of the companies connected to Mans Carpio, the Vice President’s husband.

As it appeared, the firm had a working relationship with Gencorp Industries and Metro City Chow Foods, among others.

Again, the witness said she did not know.

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“‘Yong external auditor po ng Gencorp is Elises, Ciudadano, from 2019 onwards. And ‘yong Metro City Chow, from 2020 onwards, sila rin po ang external auditor. Pero napansin ko rin po dito po sa external auditor ni Attorney Manases at ni Vice President Sara ay Elises, Ciudadano rin,” said Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

“So, para sa akin…parang nagkakaroon ng koneksiyon ‘yong partnership sa Elises, Ciudadano…. Parang may koneksiyon sa inyo itong external auditing firm,” he added.

(Gencorp’s external auditor from 2019 onwards is Elises, Ciudadano. And from 2020 onwards, it is also Metro City Chow’s external auditor. But I also noticed that Elises, Ciudadano is also the external auditor of Attorney Mans and Vice President Sara. So, for me, there’s a connection in the partnership with Elises, Ciudadano. It seems the external auditing firm has a connection to you.)

“Hindi ko po alam ‘yon (I don’t know that), your honor,” said Bajan. – Rappler.com