Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, the younger brother of Vice President Sara Duterte, has been subpoenaed to testify before the Senate impeachment court next week as the prosecution continues presenting evidence in her impeachment trial.
The impeachment court ordered Mayor Duterte to appear on Wednesday, September 23, together with lawyer Gary Samonte and Police Major Jericho Sangalang. Their scheduled appearances may still be adjusted depending on the pace of the proceedings and the testimonies of witnesses who are set to take the stand before them.
According to Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr., a member of the House prosecution panel, the prosecution intends to question Baste Duterte in his capacity as Davao City mayor about possible transactions between the city government and a company in which the Vice President declared ownership of shares.
“Gusto natin malaman dito, in his capacity as mayor of Davao, ’di ba, kung nagkaroon ba ng any dealings itong company na ’to with the city government of Davao,” Tolosa told reporters during a press conference after Wednesday’s hearing, September 16.
Sara Duterte, 48, identified herself as a stockholder of Davao City-based Gencorp Industries Inc. in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) beginning in 2024. She stated in the documents that she acquired the interest in 2013.
The prosecution is also expected to use Securities and Exchange Commission records to establish an alleged corporate connection between Gencorp Industries and its reported former name, Timesquare Bee Foods Corporation.
Earlier reports indicated that Gencorp received approximately ₱14.32 million worth of transactions from the Davao City government between 2022 and 2025, a period when Sara was Vice President and Baste was serving as mayor.
The prosecution, however, has yet to formally present evidence before the impeachment court confirming those reported transactions.
Tolosa did not disclose the specific issues that prosecutors intend to raise with the younger Duterte during his testimony.
The private prosecutor stressed that the subpoena issued by the impeachment court requires the mayor to appear.
“He will have to respect it and appear before the court,” Tolosa said.
The prosecution also raised the possibility of asking the court to treat Mayor Duterte as a hostile witness if his testimony or interests are found to conflict with those of the prosecution.
“If it will be shown that his interests are 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,” Tolosa explained.
Three government officials are scheduled to testify before Duterte, Samonte and Sangalang. They are Civil Service Commission Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo, SEC official Gerardo Del Rosario, and Rendell Sopeña, division chief of the E-Government Procurement Operations Division of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.
The prosecution is currently presenting evidence on Article II of the impeachment case, which accuses Vice President Duterte of amassing unexplained wealth.
The testimony of Mayor Duterte is expected to form part of the prosecution’s continuing presentation of evidence concerning the Vice President’s financial declarations and alleged business interests.