PASAY CITY, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte requested additional time on Monday to compile essential records prior to testifying before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
In a formal communication delivered to the tribunal, Mayor Duterte requested permission to shift his appearance to Tuesday and Wednesday, September 29 and 30, citing the need for sufficient time to locate, compile, verify, and copy the documents requested under his subpoena.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, presiding over the proceedings, read the mayor’s correspondence during the session:
”We are in receipt of a letter from Mayor Sebastian Duterte of the City of Davao dated today, requesting that, among others, he be given time, as he requires substantial time to gather, organize, authenticate, and reproduce the subpoena documents, and asks that he be allowed to attend instead of today, tomorrow, and on Wednesday, for him to be allowed to attend on September 29 and 30, that is tomorrow and on Wednesday, which is already covered by the subpoena issued to him,”
Escudero approved the request without delay. The tribunal had previously adjusted the appearance dates for Mayor Duterte and two other witnesses to the September 28–30 period due to scheduling conflicts from the prior week.
The impeachment proceedings are currently examining Article II against Vice President Sara Duterte, which centers on allegations of unexplained wealth.
Specifically, the charge claims she failed to accurately report her family’s complete assets and liabilities in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) from 2022 to 2024, and maintained prohibited commercial interests throughout her term through 2025.
During earlier testimony, former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang affirmed that amassing ill-gotten wealth constitutes valid legal grounds for removing a public official from office.
Prosecutors from the House of Representatives plan to question the Davao City mayor regarding Gencorp Industries, Inc., an enterprise allegedly connected to the Vice President.