Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte said he was unaware that his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, had declared an interest in GENCORP Industries Inc., which had entered into 19 transactions with the city government.
In a statement issued September 21, Baste said neither “Sara Zimmerman Duterte” nor the surname “Duterte” appeared in GENCORP’s official documents submitted in connection with the transactions, including its Articles of Incorporation. He said the city government had no knowledge of Sara’s claimed interest in the company.
Baste’s statement came as GENCORP’s dealings with the Davao City government are being examined in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. He said the 19 transactions, which began in 2022, had a gross value of P33.263 million, with 13 completed and six ongoing.
The issue was raised after Sara Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth listed GENCORP among her business interests. During Monday’s impeachment proceedings, however, an SEC official testified that her name did not appear as an incorporator, director, or stockholder in GENCORP’s corporate records.
Baste is expected to testify before the Senate impeachment court next week after his scheduled September 23 appearance was moved to accommodate the trial’s calendar.
