DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV are expected to testify in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial this week as House of Representatives prosecutors continue presenting evidence related to allegations of unexplained wealth, business interests, and financial transactions.
The Senate Impeachment Court will resume hearings with prosecutors scheduled to complete the testimony of Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) Division Chief Rendell Sopeña before calling additional witnesses.
Following Sopeña’s testimony, prosecutors are expected to call Mayor Duterte, lawyer Gary Samonte of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Regional Office XI Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat and Maj. Joe Rickson Sanggalang of the National Police (PNP) Firearms and Explosives Office.
Sopeña previously testified about government contracts awarded to Gencorp Industries Inc., a company that Vice President Duterte declared as a business interest in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
PhilGEPS records showed that Gencorp received 49 government contracts worth a combined P35.878 million during Duterte’s vice presidency. These included contracts from Davao City, PhilHealth Region XI, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region XI.
The prosecution said these transactions are relevant to its allegation that Duterte did not fully separate herself from business and financial interests after assuming the vice presidency. Prosecutors cited Article VII, Section 13 of the Constitution, which restricts certain officials from participating in businesses or having financial interests in government contracts while in office.
The House lead prosecutor, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, pointed to Duterte’s own declaration of Gencorp in her SALNs as part of their argument. ‘The admission came from the respondent herself,’ Luistro said, referring to Duterte’s disclosure of the company as a business interest.
Luistro also emphasized that the allegation involving unexplained wealth includes the issue of failing to divest from business interests. She said, ‘Please remember that the last part of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment involves the non-divestment of other business and financial interests.’
Mayor Duterte has been subpoenaed to appear before the Impeachment Court from September 28 to 30. Prosecutors said they plan to question him about Davao City government transactions involving Gencorp. Luistro earlier said, ‘We hope he appears because his testimony will be significant.’
House prosecution spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia-ur Rahman Alonto Adiong said Mayor Duterte’s previous acknowledgement that Gencorp had transactions with the Davao City government strengthened the need for his testimony. He explained, ‘The prosecution’s position became stronger because his testimony will be essential for the court to fully understand the case being brought against the Vice President.’
Trillanes meanwhile is expected to testify about financial information related to Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth. Prosecutors said they intend to compare Duterte’s declared assets, lawful income, and financial records gathered from investigations.
The prosecution has referenced Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) information involving 663 transactions connected to Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, with a reported combined value of about P6.77 billion.
Prosecutors clarified that these figures represent total transaction values and do not automatically mean that the amount was owned or possessed by them at one time.
Adiong said the prosecution has already presented witnesses from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and PhilGEPS. The SEC testimony involved corporate documents connected to businesses declared in Duterte’s SALNs, while the PhilGEPS witness authenticated government procurement records involving Gencorp.
He explained that company sales and government contracts do not automatically represent personal income or prove wrongdoing. ‘What we presented are documents that the court can examine alongside the Vice President’s declarations and the constitutional restrictions that apply to her position,’ Adiong said.
The prosecution expects the defense to cross-examine the PhilGEPS witness before moving to its remaining witnesses. Adiong said, ‘We expect there will be a cross-examination of the witness we presented from PhilGEPS.’
He also discussed the Impeachment Court’s ruling on the voting requirement for conviction. Adiong said the decision did not reduce the constitutional requirement but maintained the two-thirds rule based on senator-judges who are legally and factually able to participate when judgement is made.
Vice President Duterte’s impeachment trial must continue even if some senator-judges choose not to participate, according to the prosecution. Adiong said, ‘That is one possibility we are considering, but from the prosecution’s side, this process must continue.’
Adiong added that the Senate has already taken jurisdiction over the impeachment case and must resolve the charges. ‘The Senate has already accepted jurisdiction over the impeachment case, so there are no other options except for the Senate to decide on the Articles of Impeachment,’ he said.
The possibility of a boycott emerged after six minority senator-judges did not participate in the court’s vote regarding the conviction threshold. The senators involved were Alan Peter Cayetano, Pilar Juliana Cayetano, Christopher Go, Imelda Josefa Remedios Marcos, Robin Padilla, and Camille Villar. Despite disagreements over the ruling, the prosecution maintained that the impeachment proceedings should move forward.