MANILA, Philippines — The Securities and Exchange Commission has no document showing that Vice President Sara Duterte transferred ownership of businesses linked to her to other people, an SEC official testified before the Senate impeachment court Monday.
SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo del Rosario gave the testimony on Day 27 of Duterte’s impeachment trial as prosecutors examined her alleged business interests and those of her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
Del Rosario confirmed that Duterte appeared as an incorporator of Metro City Chow Foods Corp. in 2016 and remained a member of its board of directors from 2018 through 2025. SEC records also showed that she held a 20% stake in the company.
Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros asked whether Duterte had submitted documents to the SEC showing that she had divested from or withdrawn from companies linked to her.
Del Rosario identified at least two companies where Duterte’s name later disappeared from corporate filings: City Hall King Chow Foods Corp. and SGT Fortune Horse Corp.
Duterte appeared as a stockholder of City Hall King Chow Foods in 2019, but amended General Information Sheets covering 2019 to 2021 no longer listed her as a stockholder or director.
She also appeared as an incorporator of SGT Fortune Horse in 2013, but later corporate records no longer listed her with the company.
However, Del Rosario said the SEC had not received documents showing that Duterte transferred her ownership in either company to another person.
“We only have the information provided in the GIS filings,” Del Rosario told the court.
Hontiveros pressed the witness on whether the SEC had received a deed or other document documenting Duterte’s transfer of ownership.
“There is no deed or any other document stating that she transferred her ownership to another person,” Del Rosario said.
The witness said the disappearance of Duterte’s name from a company’s filings could lead to the presumption that she was no longer involved with the company, but the SEC records did not establish how or when she divested her interest.
Duterte remained on company board while VP
Del Rosario also testified that Duterte remained a director and shareholder of Metro City Chow Foods after she assumed the vice presidency in 2022.
SEC General Information Sheets listed her as a board member from 2022 through 2025, while records showed she retained a 20% stake in the company.
The prosecution has cited Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth, questions over her asset declarations and her continued business interests among the allegations in the impeachment complaint.
The Senate impeachment court is currently hearing evidence related to Article II, which covers allegations involving unexplained wealth, false Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and continued business interests.
Duterte’s defense has challenged portions of the prosecution’s corporate evidence, including documents involving companies that the defense said were covered by an earlier ruling excluding them from subpoena requests.
