Baste Duterte expected to testify in VP Sara impeachment trial

MANILA — The Senate impeachment court resumes proceedings Tuesday with Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte expected to take the witness stand as the trial continues to examine Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth and business interests.

But beyond the mayor’s testimony, senator-judges are expected to continue examining the government contracts awarded to GenCorp Industries Inc., the Vice President’s financial records and other evidence being presented under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

Here’s what to watch on Day 31 of the trial:

Baste is expected to testify about Davao City’s transactions with GenCorp and authenticate documents covered by the subpoena issued by the impeachment court.

The city government, which Baste currently heads, awarded GenCorp 15 contracts worth about P34.2 million, according to PhilGEPS Division Chief Rendell Sopeña’s testimony.

Baste earlier disclosed that GenCorp secured 19 Davao City government contracts worth P33.26 million, including 13 completed and six ongoing contracts.

The mayor has maintained that he and other city officials were unaware that his sister had declared an interest in GenCorp.

The Vice President declared GenCorp as a business interest in her 2024 and 2025 SALNs. However, Securities and Exchange Commission records presented during the trial did not identify her as a stockholder, incorporator or director of the company.

Meanwhile, PhilGEPS records showed that GenCorp secured 49 government contracts worth P35.88 million from the Davao City government, PhilHealth Region XI, and OWWA Region XI during Duterte’s term as vice president.

The prosecution has linked these transactions to the allegation that Duterte failed to divest from her business interests while in office.

The defense has questioned the relevance of the transactions, noting that the Davao City contracts were awarded when the Vice President was no longer the city’s mayor.