Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero on Tuesday instructed the defense witness not to look toward defense counsels during cross-examination at Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial after private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia raised concerns about the witness’s behavior.

The prosecution flagged the defense’s third witness, Davao City accountant Vingelin Bajan, for repeatedly looking toward members of the defense team while answering questions and asked the court to remind her not to do so during cross-examination.

“Your Honor, may we request the witness not to look at defense counsel, Your Honor,” Divinagracia said.

“Kindly respond, Ms. Evan,” Escudero told the witness.

The request came after Bajan was questioned about her involvement in an accounting firm registered in 2003.

Defense counsel Lindon Bacquel requested a copy of the document being presented, but the prosecution said it had only one copy.

Escudero then directed Bajan to answer the question, to which she confirmed that she was part of the accounting firm.

Bajan could not answer at first but later confirmed that she was part of the accounting firm.

“Yes po, Your Honor,” the witness replied.

Earlier, Bajan described the firm as her first workplace. However, Escudero pointed out that the document indicated she had capital in the firm, suggesting she was a partner rather than merely an employee.

“First job mo? Dito nakalagay may capital ka. Parte ka ng accounting firm. Iba po ang may-ari sa empleyado alam niyo naman siguro ‘yun, as an accountant you should know that. So, were you part of this accounting firm?” Escudero said.

Divinagracia later made another request after Bajan allegedly continued looking toward the defense counsels while being questioned about an accounting firm that amended its articles of partnership only in 2015.

“May we request that the witness be reminded not to be looking at the Defense Counsels,” the private prosecutor said.

Escudero acknowledged that he had also noticed the behavior and instructed Bajan to focus on the documents presented during the proceedings.

“The Chair also noticed that. Kindly avoid that... Just look at the documents being shown to you,” Escudero said.

Her testimony concerns the P64,194.72 payment she received from the Davao City local government in 2023, which she said represented a salary differential and not double compensation.