MANILA, Philippines — Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo urged Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte on Tuesday to review his chief of staff’s role and the city government’s transactions with GenCorp Industries Inc. during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Tulfo made the suggestion after Mayor Duterte testified on the 31st day of the trial that he only learned about GenCorp when the company came up during the proceedings.
“Siguro, suggestion ko lang, manifestation ko lang—pagbalik niyo ng Davao kailangan niyo patawag ang inyong chief of staff,” Tulfo told Duterte during the senator-judges’ clarificatory questions.
Tulfo said the mayor could face complications if his chief of staff failed to properly investigate the city government’s dealings with GenCorp.
“Dahil sa kaniyang kakulangan sa kaalaman at pag-iimbestiga ay sasabit po kayo. Mas maganda siguro paimbestigahan ninyo,” Tulfo said.
Duterte responded that such an investigation would be appropriate.
He later clarified that he would order an investigation only if authorities established that the transactions involved a violation of law.
When Tulfo asked whether he believed the transactions constituted a legal violation, Duterte said the impeachment court should determine that.
Tulfo then asked whether the mayor planned to examine the matter himself as Davao City’s chief executive.
Duterte said his response would depend on the impeachment court’s findings.
“As long as my sister’s name, the vice president’s name, is not on the contract then there’s nothing,” Duterte said.
The exchange followed Duterte’s earlier admission that he did not know about GenCorp before the company became an issue during his sister’s impeachment trial.
GenCorp has been linked to Vice President Sara Duterte, although Duterte said he would not have dealt with the company if he had known of his sister’s involvement.
