Antonio Trillanes appears at Senate, ‘hopes’ to be next prosecution witness

MANILA (UPDATE) — Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday appeared at the Senate where Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is testifying for his sister Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Trillanes is one of the leading critics of the Duterte family and could also take the witness stand at the Vice President’s impeachment proceeding, specifically on her alleged unexplained wealth.

Trillanes’ appearance at the chamber came as Baste Duterte answers questions surrounding Gencorp Industries Inc., a company where Sara Duterte had declared business interests and had secured contracts with the Davao City government, where Baste is currently mayor.

Sara Duterte declared Gencorp as a business interest in her 2024 and 2025 SALNs but Securities and Exchange Commission records showed she was not a stockholder, incorporator or director of the company.

Baste, declared a hostile witness by the Senate court, previously disclosed that Gencorp secured 19 Davao City government contracts worth P33.26 million, including 13 completed and six ongoing contracts.

He however maintained that he and other city officials were unaware that his sister had declared an interest in Gencorp. 

Trillanes said he hopes to be the next prosecution witness in Duterte’s impeachment trial.

“In case hindi siya (Mayor Duterte) dumating, ako yung iprepresent,” he told reporters in the Senate.

“‘Yung subpoena kasi yan ay kung kailangan kang i-compel pa pero ako, I am willing and ready so kahit hindi sila mag issue ng subpoena,” he said.

“I hope to be presented as a witness pagkatapos ni Mayor Baste.”

Trillanes declined to give a broad view of the issues and questioned expected to be hurled at him should he be made a witness in the Vice President’s impeachment trial.

Earlier this year, the former senator submitted a sworn affidavit to a House investigating panel, claiming that former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Sara had received over P181 million in funds from Davao drug lord Samuel “Sammy” Uy between 2011 and 2013.

The Vice President has denied the allegations, saying Trillanes has been “peddling the same incredible story about alleged billions in bank accounts.” —Reports from Maria Tan and Chalssea Kate Echegoyen, ABS-CBN News