TRIAL spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said Wednesday there are clear indications of conflict of interests on the part of Vice President Sara Duterte and her family in their exposure to different businesses, which had dealings with various government entities.
Alonto Adiong said there was clearly conflict of interest in the case of GenCorp Industries Inc., a company listed by the Vice President in her statements of assets and liabilities (SALN) and has 49 contracts worth P36 million with several government agencies.
Based on the records provided by Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) E-Government Procurement Operations Division head Rendell Sopeña, GenCorp entered into contracts worth P34 million with the Davao city government where the Vice President’s brother, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is the Mayor.
In his testimony before the Senate Impeachment Court, Mayor Baste said he was not aware of his sister’s exposure to GenCorp when the city government of Davao awarded the 19 contracts to the company between 2022 and 2026.
“How convenient for the mayor to use ignorance, if I may use the word, for keeping himself away from the fact that the GenCorp has secured not just one, but multiple government contracts and by the way, not only secured government contracts with Davao, but actually tailored fit to secure these government contracts,” Alonto Adiong said.
Recalling the testimony of Mayor Baste, Alonto Adiong noted how the bids and awards committee of the city government of Davao seemingly amended its rules to ensure GenCorp was able to secure the contracts with them.
The mayor himself first claimed that the city government has a policy that only businesses with more than five years of operation and with at least five physical stores can participate in the bidding and yet GenCorp, with just two years under its belt, was allowed to join the bidding and actually won several contracts.
“That alone is a clear message and display or an indication that these contracts were tailor fit for GenCorp to secure. Not just one, but multiple contracts,” Alonto Adiong said.
“So, klaro even if for example, kasi babalikan natin yung SALN ng Vice President, sinabi naman niya na meron siyang business interest, twice in years 2024, 2025 and dineclare niya, sinumpaan niya yan,” he added.
There was also the admission by Mayor Baste that he and his brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte are in business with Jaime T. Cruz in the Chinese Gen Bee Foods Corporation.
Alonto Adiong noted that Cruz’s name has repeatedly appeared in the business dealings of the Dutertes, including in GenCorp and several other companies listed by the Vice President in her SALNs, where he serves as an incorporator.
He said the fact that Mayor Baste Duterte happens to be in business with Cruz is indicative of conflict of interest on both him and the Vice President.
“That would give you an idea na itong kontrata na ito na napanalunan ng GenCorp, it’s not just because they can supply the needed commodities by the city government, but because of the closer ties of Mr. Jaime T. Cuz with the Duterte family,” Alonto Adiong said.
“Si Jaime T. Cruz hindi lang po siya ordinaryo na negosyante. Professionally, kasama na nila yan and, I would say, financially, kasama na nila yan. So, conflict of interest all around the issue,” he added.
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