Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte said she has no information on whether her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, will appear before the Senate impeachment court after receiving a subpoena.
Duterte’s defense team said it was preparing for the mayor’s possible testimony and a prosecution bid to have him declared a hostile witness.
“Wala akong info kung mag-a-attend siya,” Duterte told reporters in Davao City on Friday, Sept. 25.
[Translation: I have no information on whether he will attend.]
The vice president said she informed her brother about the subpoena before it was publicly announced.
“Sinabihan ko siya bago pa man lumabas. Sinabi ko, ‘May subpoena sa iyo,’ at sinabi niya na kausapin niya raw iyong City Legal Office,” Duterte said.
[Translation: I informed him before it came out. I told him, ‘You have a subpoena,’ and he said he would consult the City Legal Office.]
Baste’s office received the subpoena on Sept. 22 through the Davao City government’s administrative services division.
The subpoena directs him to appear before the impeachment court from Sept. 28 to 30 and bring documents requested by the prosecution.
The mayor was summoned in connection with records involving GenCorp Industries Inc., a company listed among Sara Duterte’s business interests in her 2024 and 2025 Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
GenCorp reportedly secured contracts worth about ₱30 million from the Davao City government.
Defense preparing for testimony
Duterte defense spokesperson Justin Gular confirmed that the legal team was furnished a copy of the subpoena.
“Yes, we are aware that a subpoena has been issued because we were informed through a manifestation by the prosecution, in all fairness to them, that they were asking for a subpoena for Mayor Baste Duterte,” Gular said in an interview on The Newsmaker.
Gular declined to disclose the defense team’s specific preparations.
“We are just preparing in terms of what the testimony will be because when Mayor Baste Duterte will be presented in the impeachment court, this will also be the first time that we will see him testify and see whatever documents he may bring,” he said.
Gular noted that the subpoena requires the mayor not only to testify but also to produce documents sought by the prosecution.
“It is enough to say that the defense is preparing and hopefully will be prepared to do our jobs for the Vice President when and if Mayor Baste Duterte will be presented in the impeachment court,” he said.
Possible hostile witness
The House prosecution has said it may ask the impeachment court to declare Baste a hostile witness because of his relationship with the vice president and his possible interest in protecting her.
A hostile witness classification could allow prosecutors to ask him leading questions and challenge his testimony despite calling him as their own witness.
Gular said the defense was prepared for that possibility.
“Handa naman po iyong defense in case the prosecution intends to qualify Mayor Baste Duterte as a hostile witness, and we will just proceed accordingly,” he said.
[Translation: The defense is prepared in case the prosecution intends to qualify Mayor Baste Duterte as a hostile witness, and we will proceed accordingly.]
Gular said prosecutors must first establish the legal basis for treating the mayor as hostile.
He said the impeachment court would ultimately decide whether Baste could be classified as a hostile witness.
“Depending na rin po kung ano iyong finding ng ating impeachment court, whether ultimately to treat Mayor Baste Duterte as a hostile witness or hindi po,” Gular said.
[Translation: It will depend on the finding of the impeachment court on whether Mayor Baste Duterte should ultimately be treated as a hostile witness.]
