DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is expected to take the witness stand this coming week in the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, as House prosecutors examine alleged transactions between the city government and a company in which she reportedly declared a financial interest.
Baste has been subpoenaed by the Senate Impeachment Court to testify and produce records involving transactions between the Davao City government and Gencorp Industries Inc. from 2020 to the present.
He has also been directed to bring records involving transactions with entities owning or operating a Jollibee branch or establishment during the same period.
Gencorp is among the companies in which the Vice President reportedly declared a financial interest in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
“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,” House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur earlier said.
Prosecutors want to determine whether Gencorp had transactions with the Davao City government during Baste’s tenure as mayor and the circumstances surrounding any such dealings.
House prosecution legal spokesperson and counsel Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said prosecutors will also ask the Impeachment Court to declare Baste a hostile witness once he testifies.
“We will ask the court to declare him as a hostile witness,” Tolosa said
during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
Tolosa said the prosecution would have to show that Baste’s interests are adverse to those of the party calling him before the court could grant the request.
“If you’ll be able to show that ’yung interest of the witness are adverse to the party calling him, then ma-qualify ho siya as a hostile witness,” he said.
A hostile-witness declaration would give prosecutors greater latitude in examining Baste, including allowing them to ask leading questions. The final determination rests with the Impeachment Court.
Baste’s expected testimony forms part of the prosecution’s shift from the Vice President’s own wealth declarations to independent corporate and government records under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.
Article II alleges, among others, that Duterte failed to divest and continued participating in businesses while serving as Vice President.
Prosecutors are expected to first present officials from the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS).
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, meanwhile, has been directed to produce procurement records involving contracts between Gencorp and government agencies from 2020 to the present.
The records are expected to allow prosecutors to compare Duterte’s SALN declarations with independent corporate and government documents.
Baste was initially ordered to appear before the Impeachment Court on Wednesday, Sept. 23, along with lawyer Gary Samonte and Police Major Jerrickson Sangalang.
The schedule could change because the prosecution and defense are set to present oral arguments that day on the disputed voting threshold for Duterte’s possible conviction.
The Impeachment Court indicated that the subpoenas for Baste, Samonte and Sangalang could be withdrawn and reissued depending on how the earlier witnesses and the Sept. 23 proceedings unfold.
Samonte is expected to testify on records from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) Regional Office XI involving companies being examined by prosecutors.
Sangalang, of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office, is expected to testify on firearms registered under the names of the Vice President and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
Baste’s appearance would make him one of the most closely related witnesses to testify so far in the impeachment proceedings, as prosecutors move deeper into the Vice President’s corporate and financial interests under Article II.
metrosundaily
