Senator-judges flag GenCorp payments to VP Duterte
MANILA — The P2.1 million in payments allegedly received by Vice President Sara Duterte from GenCorp Industries became a focal point of questioning by senator-judges during the impeachment trial, raising possible constitutional violations and conflict-of-interest concerns.
Defense witness Atty. Suzette Punay earlier testified on Wednesday that Duterte is not a stockholder, officer, or director of GenCorp Industries.
However, the proceedings revealed that Duterte allegedly received monthly contributions from a fast-food restaurant franchise owned by GenCorp from 2022 to 2025.
Senator-judge Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan asked whether the receipt of money itself indicated Duterte’s role in the business corporation.
The witness, who testified Duterte had no hand in operations, acknowledged that being a beneficiary could be considered participation.
Whether that role was direct or indirect, Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros emphasized that the 1987 Constitution strictly prohibited the vice president from having any financial interest in a corporation.
Senate President Win Gatchalian also raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest, noting that GenCorp had contracts with the Davao government.
“Sino ang nagbabayad kay VP? GenCorp. Sino ang may 19 contracts? GenCorp. So mukhang conflict of interest?” Gatchalian asked.
(Who pays the VP? GenCorp. Who had 19 contracts? GenCorp. Doesn’t this seem like conflict of interest?)
“To my understanding, there is no conflict of interest because VP Sara Duterte is not part of the LGU,” Punay responded.
Gatchalian however noted that Duterte’s brother Sebastian Duterte is mayor.
Several senator-judges also raised the lack of documents to support the witness’s explanation that the money received by Duterte was a ‘return of investment’, not income.
They asked how the amount reached P2.1 million without documentation to substantiate the transactions.
“It is only your word that she is paid return of investment without proper documentation?” Senator-judge Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri asked.
“Wala po akong maipakitang document,” Punay, who said she did look for contracts and other records, replied.
(I have no documents to show.)
Senator-judge Camille Villar, however, raised that Punay only serves as the company’s in-house counsel.
“You handle legal so a lot of our financial questions, it’s really possible hindi niyo po alam (that you don’t know about that),” Villar said.
“We will present the witness at the proper time to answer those questions, Your Honor,” defense counsel Atty. Michael Poa said.
To aid the witness testimony, Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the Senate impeachment court will issue subpoenas for documents expected to clarify why Duterte allegedly received payments from Gencorp.
A representative from the Bank of the Philippine Islands is expected to testify on Thursday after the defense decided not to present the other bank representatives anymore.