Baste Duterte Declared Hostile Witness — But Baste Duterte Clears Sara on GenCorp Links

Baste Duterte Declared Hostile Witness — But Baste Duterte Clears Sara on GenCorp Links

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.com | September 30, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte was formally declared a hostile witness on Tuesday, September 29, during the Senate impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte — a ruling that gave prosecutors unusual leeway in questioning but yielded nothing to advance their case.

The Ruling

Prosecution counsel Atty. Theodore “Ted” Te moved to designate the mayor as hostile, citing his family ties to the Vice President and public statements he had made about the proceedings. Defense counsel Atty. Justin Gular objected, arguing that political remarks did not equate to legal hostility. Presiding Officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero overruled the objection, finding that the mayor faced joint liability should the allegations against his sister be proven — establishing clear adverse interest.

“The court declares the witness’s adverse interest established,” Escudero ruled.

The designation allowed prosecutors to ask leading questions — a procedural advantage intended to elicit unfavorable testimony.

Prosecution’s Strategy Falls Short

Prosecutors pressed the mayor on his public statements, including his view that the impeachment is designed to block his sister’s 2028 presidential bid — a perception he confirmed — and a September 21 Facebook post warning against “orchestrated narratives engineered to serve political motives.” He acknowledged he appeared under subpoena and would not have come voluntarily.

Yet on the core matter at hand — Davao City’s contracts with GenCorp Industries Inc., in which Vice President Duterte declared an interest in her 2024 and 2025 SALNs — the mayor’s testimony provided nothing for the prosecutors. He stated plainly that he has no personal knowledge of his sister having business ties to GenCorp and affirmed that all city transactions were legal, proper, and above board.

The Impact

The prosecution secured the procedural classification they sought — but not the substantive breakthrough they needed. The Vice President faces allegations of amassing unexplained wealth, incomplete asset disclosure, and failure to divest business interests while in office. With their key witness maintaining no improper links and all processes in order, the prosecution’s case remains without corroborating evidence from the one witness they hoped would tie the Vice President directly to the transactions in question.