DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte cannot exercise authority over the city government but distance himself from responsibility when transactions under his watch are questioned, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said Tuesday.
Ortega made the point after Mayor Duterte acknowledged in the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, that he remains ultimately accountable for Davao City procurement even after delegating his contract-signing authority.
“Hindi pwedeng wala kang ideya, hindi pwedeng wala kang command responsibility. Mabigat ang responsibilidad mo kung ikaw ang may hawak ng kapangyarihan sa iyong nasasakupan,” Ortega said during the House prosecution’s trial-break press briefing.
House prosecutors are scrutinizing Davao City contracts awarded to Gencorp Industries Inc., which the Vice President listed as a business interest in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
That disclosure underpins the prosecution’s non-divestment allegation under Article II.
Prosecutors contend that Vice President Duterte’s financial interest in Gencorp violated the Constitution, which bars the Vice President from participating in business or holding a financial interest in any government contract while in office.
Mayor Duterte had defended the transactions in a Sept. 21 statement, saying Gencorp was “rigorously evaluated” in every instance.
He also told the impeachment court Tuesday that the city awarded Gencorp 19 contracts, correcting the prosecution’s initial reference to 15.
But while standing by his earlier statement, Baste acknowledged limits to his personal knowledge of the transactions.
He said he was not personally aware of all contracts signed under authority he delegated to Assistant City Administrator for Administration Atty. Tristan Dwight Domingo.
Mayor Duterte also said he did not personally know whether Gencorp met a city procurement requirement that a bidder’s line of business must have been operational for at least five years.
“I do not know that as of now. We can check our records in the city,” he testified.
House prosecutor San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora said Baste would have to reconcile his testimony with his previous public statements about Gencorp.
“My only comment on that is, let’s see how he will be able to reconcile his statement earlier and his statements in the past weeks regarding Gencorp,” Zamora said.
Ortega, meanwhile, said public officials cannot enjoy the power and control of their positions only to claim ignorance when transactions under their authority face scrutiny.
“Hindi pwede ’yun. Dapat magkaakibat ’yun,” he said.
Mayor Duterte confirmed on the witness stand that, as Davao City’s head of the procuring entity, or HOPE, he exercises authority over key stages of the procurement process.
He acknowledged that while Domingo was authorized to sign contracts on his behalf, the delegation did not relieve him of accountability.
“You are still the final accountable officer,” private prosecutor Theodore Te said.
“Yes,” Mayor Duterte replied.
The Gencorp transactions form part of the prosecution’s evidence under Article II, which covers allegations involving Vice President Duterte’s unexplained wealth, financial disclosures and business interests.
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