VP Duterte was Metro City Chow director but had no involvement — witness

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte was a director of Metro City Chow Foods Corp. from 2022 to 2025 but had no active involvement in the company, a defense witness told the Senate impeachment court Wednesday.

Lawyer Suzette Balucanag-Punay, corporate counsel of Metro City Chow Foods Corp. as well as Gencorp Industries, Inc., confirmed that Duterte was a member of the board of directors and a member of the compensation committee of Metro City Chow Foods from 2022 to 2025 based on the company’s General Information Sheets.

Duterte was elected vice president in 2022.

During the direct examination of defense counsel Justin Gular, Balucanag-Punay said Duterte was among the incorporators of the Metro City Chow Foods Corp. with a 20-percent share, citing its articles of incorporation.

She said this was equivalent to a P50,000 subscribed capital and a P12,500 paid-up capital.

Punay said Metro City Chow Foods Corp. operates the San Pedro, Davao City branch of fast-food chain Chowking.

She explained however that Duterte did not participate and was not involved in business meetings or the transactions of the board of directors of Metro City Chow Foods Corp. from 2022 to 2025.

“I have not seen her in the meetings, either board meetings or even company parties, even in the store, in the branch,” she said.

Asked about the vice president’s participation in the company’s decisions, Punay said Duterte “does not participate in the decision-making process.”

She also affirmed that Duterte had no participation in the firm’s operations, finances or the management and administration of its properties.

She said she knew about this because she attended board meetings and did not see Duterte there.

“Actually, there were two significant incidents in the branch last year, and I actually asked what would be the effect to the vice president and the operations manager said that ‘Wala man siya nag-apil-apil jud ever since’ (Hindi siya sumasali),” she added. 

The Senate impeachment court is hearing the defense’s counterarguments in relation to the allegations in the Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment.

This includes Duterte’s alleged failure to divest her business interests during her tenure as vice president, which the prosecution said is a violation of the constitution.

Other allegations in the article accuse her of having unexplained wealth and failing to fully and truthfully disclose her and her spouse’s assets, liabilities, and net worth.

Duterte and her lawyers have rejected the allegations.