(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court on Tuesday declared Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte a hostile witness in the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, allowing prosecutors to ask him leading questions.
On the 31st day of the impeachment trial, Presiding Officer Francis Escudero ruled that Duterte's adverse interest had been established, citing his relationship with the vice president and potential legal exposure should the prosecution’s allegations be proven.
Prosecution counsel Theodore Te had requested that the Davao City mayor be declared a hostile witness, citing the “foundation the prosecution has laid."
“Mayor Duterte is the respondent Vice President’s younger brother from the same set of parents. He has publicly prejudged this case as political persecution,” he said.
The prosecution is presenting Duterte as a hostile witness to testify about contracts awarded by the Davao City government to GenCorp Industries Inc., a company declared by the vice president in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
The Davao City mayor took the witness stand for the prosecution on Tuesday in the impeachment trial of his sister over allegations of unexplained wealth involving her.
During Monday’s proceedings, PhilGEPS Division Chief Rendell Sopeña testified about government contracts awarded to GenCorp, including transactions involving the Davao City government.
Sopeña said the Davao City government awarded 15 contracts to the company, part of 49 food service deals awarded to GenCorp by government offices in the Davao region.
Of the 15 contracts awarded by the city, 11 did not undergo public bidding and were instead processed through “negotiated small-value procurement,” he said.
