No special arrangement for Baste Duterte’s appearance at impeachment trial

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 27, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Edge Davao

Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte will not receive any special treatment when he appears as a witness in the impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms spokesperson Renato Tongol said preparations for the mayor’s appearance will follow the same procedures applied to other witnesses in the proceedings.

Baste Duterte is scheduled to testify before the Senate impeachment court from September 28 to 30, following the court’s decision to reset his appearance from an earlier date.

His subpoena requires him to testify and bring certified copies of relevant records from the Davao City government, including contracts and transaction documents involving Gencorp Industries Inc. and entities operating Jollibee branches from 2020 to the present.

The subpoena comes as prosecutors examine Gencorp’s transactions with the Davao City government. Baste Duterte previously acknowledged that the company secured 19 city government contracts worth more than P33 million, while maintaining that city officials were unaware of his sister’s declared interest in the company.

The prosecution has said his testimony is important to its examination of Article II of the impeachment complaint, which involves allegations concerning Sara Duterte’s wealth declarations and business interests.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said the impeachment court has contempt powers over subpoenaed witnesses, but stressed that Baste Duterte would not automatically be cited for contempt if he fails to appear. The court would first consider the reason for his absence.

With the mayor’s testimony approaching, attention is now turning to the documents and transactions he may present before the Senate impeachment court, and how prosecutors and the defense will address them during the proceedings.