Palace to Baste: ‘Hindi pwedeng walang alam, hindi inaalam o walang pakialam’

Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang questioned Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s statement at the impeachment trial that he was unaware of Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial interest in GenCorp Industries, Inc., saying government leaders cannot simply claim ignorance about transactions under their watch.

“Ang isang mayor o kahit sinumang lider o pinuno, kapag ikaw ay may sakop sa isang ahensya o sa isang organisasyon, masabi na natin, pati mga areas or bansa mismo, hindi po maaaring basta masabi na walang alam, hindi inaalam o walang pakialam,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Wednesday, Sept. 30. 

[Translation: A mayor, or any leader, who has authority over an agency or organization, or even an area or country, cannot simply say that they know nothing, did not bother to find out, or do not care.]

Castro reacted to the mayor’s testimony Tuesday, Sept. 29, where he said he did not know that his sister had declared GenCorp as a business interest in her 2024 and 2025 Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.

Davao City awarded GenCorp 19 contracts of more than ₱33 million over five years. Duterte told the impeachment court that the number was “not too many” compared to the city government’s total volume of transactions, and maintained that the contracts were above board.

Duterte also testified that he did not personally review all contracts signed on his behalf by an authorized city official, although he acknowledged that accountability ultimately rested with him as mayor. He said he would know if there were irregularities in contracts entered into by the city government.

Asked by impeachment court Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero whether he would have allowed the contracts with GenCorp had he known about his sister’s declared interest in the company, the mayor replied: “I would not allow it.”

Castro said Duterte’s testimony appeared to show that he did not know about the matter and did not look into it.

“Ang ipinakita lang niya kahapon ay wala siyang alam. Wala siyang alam, hindi niya inalam, at parang wala siyang pakialam,” Castro said.

[Translation: What he showed yesterday was that he knew nothing. He knew nothing, he did not look into it, and it appeared that he did not care.]

Castro stopped short of accusing the mayor of lying or covering up for his sister.

“Hindi natin masasabi, hindi natin mabibigyan ng anumang paghuhusga ang kanyang statement,” she said.

[Translation: We cannot say. We cannot pass judgment on his statement.]

Castro also pointed to Duterte’s statement that he would not have allowed the GenCorp contracts had he known about his sister’s declared interest.

“Inangat niya iyong sarili niya as a mayor pero in a way, nalaglag ang kapatid niya noong sinabi niya na kung alam niya lang na may interest ang kapatid niya sa GenCorp, hindi niya ito papayagan,” Castro said.

[Translation: He defended himself as mayor, but in a way, he put his sister in a bind when he said that had he known his sister had an interest in GenCorp, he would not have allowed it.]

Castro said Malacañang was not making a determination on whether Duterte could be held liable.

“Kung may liability si Mayor Baste Duterte, hindi tayo ang maghuhusga dito,” she said.

[Translation: If Mayor Baste Duterte has any liability, we are not the ones who will judge that.]

Duterte testified as a hostile witness for the prosecution with proceedings tackling Article II, which covers allegations involving the vice president’s unexplained wealth, false SALN, and failure to divest business interests.