Diokno questions ‘honest mistake’ explanation for VP Sara’s P2.1M GenCorp payment

Atty. Suzette Balucanag-Punay, in-house counsel for Gencorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corporation, testifies before the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA – House prosecution panel member Rep. Chel Diokno questioned former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s characterization of the P2.1-million payment from GenCorp to Vice President Sara Duterte as an “honest mistake,” saying the transaction points to the vice president’s possible interest in the company.

In an interview on DZMM on Saturday, Diokno said the payment raises questions about Duterte’s connection to GenCorp, particularly after GenCorp corporate counsel, Atty. Suzette Balucanag-Punay, testified that the amount represented a return on or return of capital.

“When you look at it, it indicates na talagang may interest si VP sa kumpanya,” Diokno said.

“Kasi kung wala naman siyang interest doon at kung hindi naman siya nag-capital doon, bakit ibabalik sa kanya ang capital? So definitely may connection, may kaugnayan ang VP,” Diokno added.

He pointed out that the testimony came from a witness called by the defense itself, making the disclosure significant to the prosecution’s case.

“Ito ang testigo na pinaupo ng defense na sila mismo ang tumawag at ginamit bilang pagpapresentan ng ebidensya. Para sa akin, that’s a very telling circumstance,” he said.

He also argued that even indirect participation in a private business could violate constitutional restrictions on the vice president’s receipt of income while in office.

“So kahit indirect participation, bawal ‘yan. Pangalawa, ay klarong-klaro sa Constitution na pag nakaupo na ang VP wala na siya dapat ibang matatanggap na kita kundi ang binabayad sa kanya ng gobyerno bilang VP,” Diokno said.

“So ngayon ang tanong bakit siya binigyan ng P2.1[million] at bakit niya tinanggap ang P2.1-M samantalang abogada siya at klarong-klaro sa Constitution na hindi pwede ‘yan,” he added.

Diokno also addressed criticism of the prosecution’s questioning about the expenses of Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, including purchases at a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, and shoes in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

He said public officials are expected to live simple lives under the Constitution and existing laws.

He noted that the expenses discussed during the proceedings amounted to around P200,000 each, relatively small compared with the more than P800 million in alleged unexplained wealth raised by the prosecution.

“‘Yung sa restaurant more or less P200,000. ‘Yung sa sapatos around the same amount rin,” he said.