Baste Duterte’s ‘confession’ is a failure of ‘due diligence’ — Kapunan

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s admission that he was unaware that his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, holds an interest in GenCorp Industries Inc. amounted to a “confession.”

That’s according to private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan who on Tuesday also argued that it showed his failure to exercise “due diligence.”

GenCorp Industries Inc. is among the companies being tackled in the vice president’s impeachment trial, particularly on her alleged unexplained wealth. The company also has extensive links to Davao City through multiple local government contracts.

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READ: Baste Duterte ‘unaware’ sister Sara holds interest in GenCorp Industries

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Days before he was meant to testify before the Senate impeachment court, Baste released a statement claiming he and all other employees of the Davao City government “never had any knowledge” about his sister’s links to GenCorp Industries Inc.

But in a chance interview on the 28th day of Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, Kapunan stressed that mayors have a duty to exercise due diligence on matters involving their local government, particularly its bids and contracts with private companies. 

This due diligence, to lawyers, said Kapunan, is similar to being a father knowing what his kids are doing, where they are, and what they’re spending their money on.

“The due diligence of the father of the family is the same standard for due diligence of public officials. In fact, higher than that—accountability ‘yan,” said Kapunan.

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Asked if Baste’s admission was him also admitting his failure to exercise due diligence, Kapunan responded: “Yes, if he says he does not know, then the correct phrase is he ought to know as mayor.”

Kapunan then stressed that Baste’s statement was not just an admission but was actually tantamount to a “confession.”

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“Parang priest penitent (it’s like a priest penitent). What do you do when you confess to the priest? You’re admitting your sins, right? Exactly. This is not only an admission, but it is also a confession,” she said.

The lawyer also responded to Baste’s reminder to be vigilant against “deceptive claims and orchestrated narratives” made to serve “political motives,” stating that this has always been the Dutertes’ blanket defense.

“Even as of this morning, when a senator-judge already asked the defense lawyer, he says, ‘ In due time. When is the due time for them? When they’re being asked by the senator-judges themselves,” said Kapunan.

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“If you have an answer, you will answer. If you have no answer, that’s exactly what you will answer. Political motivations,” she added. /mr