Witness: VP Duterte was Metro City Chow director, but had no active role

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte remained a member of the board of directors of Metro City Chow Foods Corp. from 2022 to 2025 despite having no active participation in its operations, the company’s corporate counsel said on Wednesday.

Atty. Suzette Balucanag-Punay made the testimony during the defense’s direct examination on Duterte’s involvement with Metro City Chow, as it is listed in the vice president’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth from 2017 to 2025.

Based on Metro City Chow’s articles of incorporation, Duterte is among the incorporators of the company with a 20 percent share. This is equivalent to a P50,000 subscribed capital, and a P12,500 paid-up capital. 

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According to Balucanag-Punay, “Sara Z Duterte is a member of the board of directors and a member of the compensation committee,” from 2022 to 2025, based on the general information sheets. 

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READ: Witness: Sara Duterte had no GenCorp stake, post from 2022 to 2025

She explained that in the articles of corporation, there should be five directors, and since there are five stockholders, all of them became directors.

However, when asked by defense counsel Justin Gular on Duterte’s participation and influence on the corporation, Balucanag-Punay repeatedly testified that the vice president had none.

“She does not attend the meetings and I have not seen her attend any company gatherings or at the Christmas party. I don’t see her, she’s not really involved in the business,” the corporate lawyer shared.

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Balucanag-Punay asserted the same regarding Metro City Chow’s decision making process, operation, management and finances.

“She has no participation or involvement,” the lawyer reiterated. 

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She also recalled: “I have attended meetings, board meetings also and she is not there. There were even two significant incidents in the branch last year and I actually asked if what would be the effect to the vice president and the operations manager said, “Wala siya nag-apil-apil jud ever since.” (“She never really participated ever since.”)

READ: Impeachment court lets Duterte-linked firms’ counsel testify for defense

When asked about Duterte’s membership in the company’s compensation committee, Balucanag-Punay explained that such a panel doesn’t exist within the company.

“Actually, there is no compensation committee in the by-laws of the corporation… The accounting staff said that the bank will not accept the GIS with empty positions, so all of the directors must have a position in the executive committee,” she further said. 

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Metro City Chow Foods Corp. operates the San Pedro Branch of fast-food chain Chowking, in Davao City. /mr