Baste Duterte confirms he has business ties with Jaime Tan Cruz

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte confirmed on Tuesday that he knows and has business ties with Jaime Tan Cruz.

He made the confirmation on the 31st day of the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, when he sat as a hostile witness for the prosecution.

Mayor Duterte was asked by private prosecutor Theodore Te if he knew Jaime T. Cruz.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Yes,” the mayor replied.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

Te then asked whether Mayor Duterte knew Cruz because they had business dealings together.

The mayor again answered in the affirmative.

READ: Watch: Baste Duterte says he only learned about GenCorp during impeachment trial

“The corporation being talked about is Chinese Gen Bee Food Corporation,” Te asked, to which the mayor answered, “I cannot remember but yes, yeah, yeah.”

Article continues after this advertisement

To refresh the witness’ memory, Te presented the General Information Sheet of Chinese Gen Bee Food Corporation.

Te then asked Mayor Duterte to confirm whether his name, his brother Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte’s name, and Cruz’s name appear as shareholders of the company, which the witness did.

Article continues after this advertisement

Later in the trial, during Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros’ interjections, Mayor Duterte was asked to describe his family’s ties with Cruz.

He said, “Maybe not entirely the family, but he’s a friend of my father. He’s a known businessman in Davao.”

He also testified about business transactions between GenCorp Industries Inc. and the Davao City government during his time as mayor.

Cruz, whose name was often mentioned in Vice President Duterte’s trial, was identified as an incorporator of the same businesses in which she declared holding shares.

He was also identified as the same “Jaime Cruz” who previously served as special envoy to China for trade and investments during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

READ: Impeachment trial: Jaime Tan Cruz was ex-pres Duterte’s envoy to China

According to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) records, Cruz owns a majority stake in GenCorp. SEC records also list Cruz as a shareholder or incorporator of several other companies examined during the impeachment trial.

GenCorp was among the business interests declared by Vice President Duterte in her 2025 and 2025 SALNs, but an SEC witness told the Senate impeachment court that her name did not appear in any of the company’s corporate filings.

Mayor Duterte clarified during Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian’s interjections in the trial that while he has business dealings with Cruz, he had not talked with Cruz about GenCorp.

During his testimony, Mayor Duterte reiterated his earlier statement that the Davao City government has 19 business transactions with GenCorp.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

However, he said he only learned about GenCorp when the impeachment court issued a subpoena related to his sister’s impeachment trial. /mcm