MANILA — Davao City’s Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has been summoned to testify on possible transactions between the city government and a company linked to his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, as prosecutors deepen their case involving her alleged unexplained wealth.
The Senate impeachment court ordered the younger Duterte to appear on September 23 as the prosecution turns its attention to Gencorp Industries, Inc., a company identified among the vice president’s declared business interests.
The subpoena was issued Wednesday during the 26th day of Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial, with proceedings currently focused on Article II of the Articles of Impeachment covering allegations of unexplained wealth.
Also covered by the prosecution’s latest witness requests are Securities and Exchange Commission official Gerardo del Rosario, Atty. Ariel Ronquillo, Rendell Sopeña, lawyer Gary Samonte and Police Major Jerickson Sangalang.
Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Mayor Duterte, Samonte and Sangalang were being summoned specifically for September 23, although their appearance could still be rescheduled depending on the progress of the proceedings.
“In regard to Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Atty. Gary Samonte, and Police Major Jerickson Sangalang, let the subpoena be issued only for September 23. However, on September 22, depending on where we are with respect to the three witnesses, we shall announce if we will be withdrawing that subpoena and simply issue a new one,” Escudero said.
The House prosecution panel said Baste could provide information on Gencorp Industries and whether the company had transactions with the Davao City government while he was serving as mayor.
Prosecution spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said prosecutors intend to establish whether such dealings existed and, if so, determine their details.
“Ang gusto natin malaman dito, in his capacity as mayor of Davao, kung nagkaroon ba ng dealings itong company na ito with the city government of Davao. Kung ano ‘yung details? Let’s see when he is called in to the stand,” Tolosa said.
The possibility that Baste could be treated as a hostile witness was also raised.
Tolosa said such a classification would depend on the impeachment court’s assessment of his testimony and whether his interests were adverse to those of the prosecution.
“Depende ‘yan if the court will qualify him as an expert witness just all the other witnesses we presented. Ang test naman diyan will be the same, if it will be shown that his interest is adverse to that of the prosecution, dahil kami ‘yung party na tumatawag sa kanya as witness, then the court will qualify him as a hostile witness.”
Former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang earlier testified before the impeachment court that the acquisition of unexplained wealth by a public official could constitute a ground for removal from office.
The prosecution has been presenting witnesses and documents as it seeks to substantiate its allegations concerning Duterte-Carpio’s wealth declarations and business interests./PN
