Impeachment court declares Baste Duterte hostile witness

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court on Tuesday declared Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte a hostile witness.

The mayor took the witness stand on the 31st day of the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte.

The ruling allows the House prosecution panel to ask the mayor leading questions or questions answerable by yes or no during his testimony.

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Baste Duterte was called to testify on Davao City government transactions with GenCorp Industries Inc., a company the vice president declared having business interest with in her 2024 and 2025 Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALNs).

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The prosecution had sought to have Baste Duterte treated as a hostile witness amid his relationship with the respondent and previous statements denying knowledge of his sister’s interest in GenCorp and maintaining that the city government’s transactions with the company were properly processed.

Baste Duterte’s testimony is expected to focus on the city government’s dealings with GenCorp during his tenure as mayor.

READ: Baste Duterte expected to testify on Day 31 of VP impeachment trial

In a statement issued last week, Baste said Davao City had 19 transactions with GenCorp worth P33.26 million. He said he and other city government officials and employees had no knowledge that the vice president held an interest in the company.

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Baste also said neither “Sara Zimmerman Duterte” nor the surname “Duterte” appeared in GenCorp’s corporate documents submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the city’s transactions.

The GenCorp transactions are part of the prosecution’s presentation under Article II of the impeachment complaint, which includes allegations involving unexplained wealth, inaccurate asset declarations, and failure to divest business interests.

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Baste was subpoenaed by the impeachment court to testify and produce Davao City government records involving transactions with GenCorp and other entities covered by the court’s order/ /jpv