Metro Manila, Philippines – The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, declared Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte a hostile witness, allowing House prosecutors to ask leading questions in the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Private prosecutor Theodore “Ted” Te asked the court to classify Baste as such, citing his relationship with the vice president, his public statements about the impeachment proceedings, and that he appeared before the court only after a subpoena was issued.
“He has not volunteered his participation as a witness for the prosecution and admits that he is present only because he is compelled to be here by the subpoena of the court,” Te said.
Defense lawyer Justin Gular opposed the request, arguing that Baste’s political statements “do not establish hostility towards this court.”
Gular further said the prosecution had not shown sufficient grounds to classify Baste as a hostile witness.
Presiding Officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, however, ruled otherwise and upheld the request, allowing Te to ask leading questions.
However, Escudero said this did not permit misleading questions or violations of witness rights under the Rules of Evidence and the Constitution.
Duterte took the witness stand on the 31st day of the trial.
The prosecution panel offered his testimony in relation to transactions involving the Davao City government and GenCorp Industries Inc., a company that his sister declared as a business interest in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN).
The testimony forms part of the charge of unexplained wealth, false SALN, and failure to divest business interests.
