MANILA (September 17) — Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has been subpoenaed to testify in the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, as the Senate court examines her declared business interests and allegations of unexplained wealth.
The Senate impeachment court issued the subpoena Wednesday, ordering Baste to appear on Sept. 23. He is among several witnesses being called as the House prosecution presents evidence under Article II of the impeachment complaint.
Article II alleges that the Vice President failed to fully and truthfully disclose assets and continued to hold business interests while serving as vice president. The prosecution has begun examining her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) and corporate records.
House trial spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Baste’s appearance is not being sought simply because he is Sara Duterte’s brother. Prosecutors consider his knowledge of transactions involving Gencorp and the Davao City government relevant to their presentation.
“Gencorp is not a random company. It is relevant because VP Sara herself declared a business interest in the company,” Adiong said.
Gencorp was among the business interests listed in Duterte’s SALN. Reports have also linked the company to government transactions in Davao City during the period Baste was mayor.
The prosecution is expected to present additional corporate and government records involving the company. Adiong said Baste’s position as Davao City mayor during the period under examination could make his personal and official knowledge relevant to the court.
Baste is being called as a witness, not a respondent in the impeachment proceedings, Adiong said.
The prosecution has not disclosed the specific questions or evidence it plans to present to Baste, saying these should be heard first in the impeachment court.
Prosecutors may also seek to have him declared a hostile witness, which would allow them to use leading questions during his examination.
The paper trail
Baste’s expected testimony comes as the trial moves from broader legal arguments on unexplained wealth to the documents behind the allegations.
On Tuesday, the prosecution presented Ombudsman records officer Karen Batu, who testified on Duterte’s SALNs. The court is also examining corporate records from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The prosecution’s case under Article II remains contested, with the allegations yet to be determined by the Senate impeachment court.
For Davao residents, however, the testimony could put transactions involving a company declared as a business interest of the Vice President under closer public scrutiny—and bring the city government headed by her brother directly into the trial’s examination of those records.
