MANILA — House impeachment prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon raised concerns over the pressure facing two defense witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, noting that both remain employed by the Davao City government led by her brother, Mayor Sebastian Duterte.

Ridon said City Assessor Jaime Adalin and City Accountant Vingelin Bajan had much at stake when they testified before the Senate impeachment court, particularly after senator-judges questioned their credibility over what they described as evasive answers.

“So I think there’s so much to lose in making a mistake in the testimonies in the last two days,” Ridon said at a post-trial press briefing.

“So tingin ko meron pong mga nakatayang mga karera at buhay dito po sa bagay na ito,” he added.

He pointed out that the witnesses continue to work under the Duterte-led city government, potentially adding to the pressure they face while testifying.

“They are workers for the Dutertes in the city government of Davao. The mayor is the brother of the vice president,” Ridon said.

“And it would resonate not just within the halls of the Senate. It would resonate up until Davao City,” he added.

Adalin faced questions on Monday over his initial difficulty recalling a trip to China, while Bajan was pressed on Tuesday to confirm her signature on documents involving an accounting firm where she had previously been a partner.

Several senator-judges cautioned the witnesses against giving evasive answers, with Bajan facing the possibility of a contempt citation.

Ridon, however, rejected the suggestion that the witnesses’ credibility hinged on their employment or that the defense deliberately selected Davao City officials as part of a scheme.

“Well, I wouldn’t say it’s a scheme kasi siyempre that would speculate on their actual motives and intentions,” he said.

Prosecution legal spokesperson and private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. likewise said there was no basis to attribute improper motives to the defense in choosing the witnesses.

He explained that Adalin was presented because his office handled records concerning a disputed property in Davao City, while Bajan was called to explain financial documents issued by the local government.

“So far wala naman tayong basis to say that mukhang sinasadya or may scheme,” Tolosa said.

Tolosa emphasized that the senator-judges would ultimately decide whether the witnesses were credible.

“I’m sure the senator-judges will take all of this into consideration in determining the credibility of the witnesses presented by the defense, as well as the ones that we presented,” he said.

The Senate impeachment court is hearing Duterte’s defense against the remaining charge involving alleged unexplained wealth.