Baste Duterte says he was unaware of Sara Duterte’s alleged business interests

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 29, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Maria Tan

Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte told the Senate impeachment court that he was not familiar with his sister Vice President Sara Duterte’s supposed business interests, including her reported connection to GenCorp Industries Inc.

Testifying on the 31st day of the impeachment trial, Baste said he was not aware of Sara’s alleged interest in GenCorp and maintained that the Davao City government did not know about the connection when the company secured contracts with the city.

The mayor had previously said that GenCorp secured 19 contracts worth more than P33.2 million with the Davao City government. He also said Sara Duterte’s name, as well as the Duterte surname, did not appear in the company documents submitted for those transactions.

Baste said the transactions went through the required procurement process, with GenCorp submitting the lowest calculated responsive bid or offer in the contracts where bidding was conducted. The transactions were also processed and published through the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.

His testimony comes as the prosecution examines Sara Duterte’s declared business interests, corporate positions and government transactions as part of Article II of the impeachment case.

The proceedings also looked into corporate records involving Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, as the prosecution presented documents involving companies where they were identified as having ownership or business interests.

Baste’s testimony therefore focused on what he knew, or did not know, about his sister’s reported business connections and whether those interests were known to officials involved in the Davao City government’s transactions with GenCorp.