DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte could help shed light on government transactions involving a company in which his sister, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, declared a business interest, House impeachment team spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Thursday.
Alonto Adiong said prosecutors want to examine records of transactions between the Davao City government and the company as part of their presentation under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses the Vice President of unexplained wealth.
“So being the mayor now, we would like also to find out kung ano ’yung puwedeng ma-share sa korte,” Alonto Adiong said at a press briefing.
“These records are still within the City Hall’s records, kasi transaction ’yan, public transaction. It went through the regular competitive bidding,” he added.
The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday ordered the issuance of a subpoena directing Mayor Duterte to appear on Sept. 23 at the request of the House prosecution.
Alonto Adiong said prosecutors are looking into whether there could have been a conflict of interest involving the transactions.
“Titignan natin kung meron bang conflict of interest. Again, conflict of interest,” he said.
“Because how could somebody who actually heads an office allow, participate — allow her company or his company to participate in an open bidding?” he added.
Gencorp Industries Inc. is among the companies in which the Vice President declared a business interest in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
Reports have linked Gencorp to about P14.32 million in transactions with the Davao City government from 2022 to 2025, part of about P15.02 million in reported government transactions involving the company.
Alonto Adiong said prosecutors want to determine what Mayor Duterte, as incumbent chief executive of Davao City, knows about the transactions and related city government records.
“Meron talagang nakikita natin na direct business interest,” he said.
Alonto Adiong earlier stressed that Mayor Duterte is being summoned as a witness because of his possible personal and official knowledge of matters relevant to Article II, not simply because he is the Vice President’s brother.
The prosecution is presenting evidence under Article II to establish whether Duterte’s declared wealth, income, assets and business interests are consistent with records obtained from government agencies and financial institutions.
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