Baste Duterte’s Statement on Gencorp Deals Could Be ‘Smoking Gun’ in Impeachment Trial

MANILA, Philippines – The prosecution team is unfazed by Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte‘s statement appearing to downplay his city government’s contracts with Gencorp, and said it even strengthens the need for him to take the witness stand in the impeachment trial of his older sister, Vice President Sara Duterte. The younger Duterte confirmed on Tuesday, September 22, that Gencorp has bagged 19 contracts worth P33 million with the city government since 2022, higher than the P14 million that Rappler first reported last week. After Rappler’s exclusive report was published, the prosecution requested the impeachment court to subpoena the Davao City mayor. “It only vindicated the request of the prosecution to subpoena Mayor Baste,” prosecution spokesman Zia Alonto Adiong said. “He’s the one who admitted it. All the more for him to take the witness stand and put it on record for the impeachment court to appreciate,” private prosecutor Jay Tolosa added. The younger Duterte claimed he had no knowledge of his sister’s ties to Gencorp, and even pointed out that her name is not in the Securities and Exchange Commission filings of the firm. Gencorp was linked to the Vice President because she declared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth that she is a stockholder of the company. Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said the Davao City mayor failed to exercise due diligence. “He ought to know,” Kapunan said. “This was not only an admission; it was a confession.” “This could be tantamount to a smoking gun,” prosecution spokesman Ace Barbers added. The impeachment court is currently hearing the alleged unexplained wealth of Duterte. The prosecution has been seeking to drive home the argument that the Vice President violated the Constitution when she continued to hold business interests after she assumed the country’s second highest post. – Rappler.com