MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte was subpoenaed to testify before the Senate impeachment court over alleged transactions between the city government and a company in which Vice President Sara Duterte reportedly declared a financial interest, House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said.
Adiong said the prosecution did not seek Baste’s testimony simply because he is Sara Duterte’s brother. Instead, prosecutors want him to provide personal and official information about matters relevant to Article II of the impeachment case, which concerns allegations that the vice president amassed unexplained wealth.
“He is not being called because he is the brother of VP Sara. He is being called because he may have relevant personal and official knowledge concerning matters that form part of the prosecution’s Article II presentation,” Adiong said.
The impeachment court ordered Baste to produce records covering transactions between the Davao City government and Gencorp Industries Inc. from 2020 to the present.
Gencorp appears among the companies in which Sara Duterte reportedly declared a financial interest in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.
Prosecutors said they want to determine whether Gencorp conducted transactions with the Davao City government during Baste’s tenure as mayor and examine the circumstances surrounding those dealings.
The court also directed Baste to submit records involving entities that own or operate Jollibee branches or establishments during the same period.
Prosecutors seek hostile-witness declaration
House prosecution counsel Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said prosecutors would ask the impeachment court to declare Baste a hostile witness once he takes the stand.
Tolosa said prosecutors must first establish that Baste’s interests conflict with those of the party that called him before the court can grant the request.
A hostile-witness designation would give prosecutors wider latitude in questioning Baste, including the use of leading questions. The impeachment court will make the final decision.
Baste’s testimony forms part of the prosecution’s shift toward corporate and government records as it presents Article II, moving beyond Sara Duterte’s own wealth declarations.
The article also alleges that Duterte failed to divest from business interests and continued participating in businesses while serving as vice president.
Other witnesses and records
Prosecutors are expected to present officials from the Civil Service Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission and Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.
SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo del Rosario is expected to authenticate corporate records involving companies in which Duterte declared business interests.
PhilGEPS Division Chief Rendell Sopeña is expected to produce procurement records covering contracts between Gencorp and government agencies from 2020 onward.
Prosecutors intend to compare those records with Duterte’s SALNs as they examine the unexplained-wealth allegations. The Senate impeachment court has also received more than 1,800 documents, including bank and insurance records, for the Article II proceedings.
The court initially scheduled Baste to appear on Sept. 23 alongside lawyer Gary Samonte and Police Maj. Jerrickson Sangalang. The schedule could change as the court considers the proceedings for that date, including arguments over the voting threshold for a possible conviction.
Samonte is expected to testify about Philippine Health Insurance Corp. Regional Office XI records involving companies under scrutiny. Sangalang, from the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office, is expected to testify about firearms registered under the names of Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
The prosecution began its Article II presentation on Sept. 14 after moving ahead with the unexplained-wealth allegations.