DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has been subpoenaed at the request of the House prosecution to testify next week in the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, over her alleged unexplained wealth.
The Senate impeachment court ordered Duterte to appear on Sept. 23, along with lawyer Gary Samonte and Police Major Jericho Sangalang, although their appearances could still be moved depending on the progress of witnesses scheduled ahead of them.
House prosecution legal spokesperson and counsel Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said prosecutors want to ask Duterte, in his capacity as Davao City mayor, whether a company in which the Vice President declared herself a stockholder had dealings with the city government.
“Gusto natin malaman dito, in his capacity as mayor of Davao, ’di ba, kung nagkaroon ba ng any dealings itong company na ’to with the city government of Davao,” Tolosa said at a post-trial press briefing.
The Vice President identified herself as a stockholder of Davao City-based Gencorp Industries Inc. in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth beginning in 2024, listing 2013 as the date she acquired the interest.
Gencorp Industries was allegedly formerly known as Timesquare Bee Foods Corp., a corporate link the prosecution is expected to further establish through Securities and Exchange Commission records.
Reports earlier indicated that Gencorp obtained about P14.32 million in transactions from the Davao City government from 2022 to 2025, during the period when Sara was Vice President and Baste was mayor.
The prosecution, however, has yet to present and establish those reported Davao City transactions through its evidence before the impeachment court.
Tolosa declined to disclose the specific areas on which Mayor Duterte would be questioned.
“But kung ano ’yung details, let’s see when he’s called into the stand,” he said.
Asked whether Baste could refuse to appear, Tolosa said a subpoena issued by the impeachment court is a mandatory process.
“Kapag na-issue-an siya ng subpoena ng court, then that’s a mandatory process. He will have to respect it and appear before the court,” Tolosa said.
Tolosa said the prosecution may also seek to have Baste declared a hostile witness if it establishes that his interests are adverse to those of the party calling him.
“If it will be shown that his interests are adverse to that of the prosecution, dahil kami ’yung party na tumatawag sa kanya as witness, then the court will qualify him as a hostile witness,” he said.
Three government officials are scheduled to testify ahead of Duterte, Samonte and Sangalang: Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo of the Civil Service Commission; Securities and Exchange Commission official Gerardo Del Rosario; and Rendell Sopeña, division chief of the E-Government Procurement Operations Division of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS).
House lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro told the court that Ronquillo would take the stand first, followed by Del Rosario and Sopeña.
Del Rosario is expected to authenticate corporate records concerning the Vice President’s declared business interests as the prosecution continues building its documentary evidence under Article II.
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the subpoenas for Mayor Duterte, Samonte and Sangalang initially cover Sept. 23, but the court will assess the progress of the first three witnesses before deciding whether to proceed with their appearances.
Escudero said the court would announce by Sept. 22 whether the subpoenas would remain in effect for the following day or be withdrawn and reissued for the following week or a later date to avoid unnecessarily taking the witnesses away from their duties.
The impeachment trial resumes Monday, Sept. 21, with the House prosecution continuing its presentation under Article II.
metrosundaily
