MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has countered claims of ignorance made by Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who testified before an impeachment court that he was unaware of business interests held by his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, in GenCorp Industries Inc.
Speaking at a Palace briefing on Wednesday, September 30, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration would refrain from judging the mayor’s testimony directly, but emphasized that local chief executives are expected to remain accountable for government transactions in their jurisdiction.
”So kung may liability si Mayor Baste Duterte, hindi tayo ang maghuhusga dito, maybe taongbayan dahil ang pinuno ay hindi dapat na manatili na laging walang alam or laging walang pakialam,” Castro said.
During the impeachment proceedings, the Davao City mayor maintained that he had no knowledge of the Vice President’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), stating he was unaware she had declared financial ties to GenCorp Industries Inc.
While acknowledging that a mayor might act in good faith during their initial year in office, Castro cautioned against long-term negligence regarding repeated municipal contracts.
”Pero kapag tumagal-tagal na, at hindi mo pa rin ito nakikita, kahit na patuloy pa rin na ang katransaksyon mo ay iisang kumpanya, kailangan siguro mag-isip-isip na,” Castro noted.
”Hindi lang ito para kay Mayor Baste Duterte, sa lahat na po ng pinuno. Dapat maging alerto rin kayo, hindi puwedeng gamitin itong Arias versus Sandiganbayan para lang isagip ang sarili ninyo,” she added.
When pressed on whether the Palace viewed the mayor’s testimony as an effort to protect his sister, Castro declined to speculate on his motivations.
”Hindi natin masasabi, hindi natin mabibigyan ng anumang paghuhusga ang kanyang statement. Ang ipinakita lang niya kahapon ay wala siyang alam. Wala siyang alam, hindi niya inalam, at parang wala siyang pakialam,” Castro said.
The Palace official maintained that municipal leaders cannot simply ignore irregularities that arise within their jurisdiction, emphasizing that the duration of Duterte’s tenure as mayor remains a relevant factor.
”May mga kapatid na maaaring nagsasabi ng totoo o magsisinungaling para pagtakpan at para ipagtanggol ang sariling kapatid. May kapatid din naman na nagsisinungaling para siraan ang sariling kapatid. So sa ganiyang kaganapan, hindi natin masasabi dahil iyon ay nasa kanyang puso, nasa kanyang isip kung siya ba’y nagsisinungaling o hindi,” Castro explained.
”Pero ang isang mayor o kahit sinumang leader o pinuno, kapag ikaw ay may sakop sa isang ahensiya o sa isang organisasyon, masabi na natin, pati mga areas or bansa mismo, hindi po maaaring basta masabi na walang alam, hindi inaalam o walang pakialam,” she stressed.
During his testimony, Mayor Duterte disclosed that Davao City had awarded 19 contracts to GenCorp Industries Inc.—four more than the total listed in public procurement records previously presented.
The mayor acknowledged his responsibility as the head of the city’s procuring entity as House prosecutors scrutinized municipal transactions involving the firm linked to the Vice President.