CITY Hall has officially received the subpoena requiring Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte to appear before the Senate Impeachment Court.
The legal process commands the local chief executive to testify on Sept. 28, 29, and 30 in the ongoing impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte.
The summons aims to address potential conflicts of interest and examine corporate entities linked to the Vice President’s family, specifically regarding whether these firms had official transactions or dealings with the local government.
House prosecution panels earlier emphasized that Mayor Duterte is expected to present City records and clarify if private firms secured contracts, permits, or financial advantages under both the Vice President’s and her successor’s administrations.
As of press time, the Davao City Government and the City Information Office have yet to release an official statement regarding the served subpoena.
‘Above board’
Meanwhile, the mayor set the record straight regarding the local government’s transactions with GENCORP Industries Inc., clarifying that the city has entered into 19 contracts totaling ₱33,263,161.00—more than double the unconfirmed ₱14.32-million figure circulating in reports.
In a statement released on Monday, Sept. 21, Mayor Duterte maintained that all transactions with the firm are “above board” and fully documented in accordance with government procurement standards.
According to the mayor, the engagements began in 2022 and consist of 13 completed contracts and six ongoing accounts.
Of these, four were awarded through competitive public bidding, while 15 were executed via small-value procurement as allowed under Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).
Duterte underlined that the company underwent evaluation in every instance and consistently submitted the lowest calculated responsive bid or offer. He added that all 19 contracts have been processed, reported, and published on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) portal for public verification.
“Neither the name Sara Zimmerman Duterte nor the surname ‘Duterte’ appears in any of the official documents, such as, among others, the Articles of Incorporation, submitted by GENCORP INDUSTRIES INC. across the 19 contracts,” Duterte stated.
He further cautioned the public against “deceptive claims and orchestrated narratives” designed to advance political interests and cause disunity, maintaining that the city government remains committed to full transparency.
“I remain steadfast in my commitment to transparency, fairness, and the absolute truth,” Duterte added, noting that he issued the statement ahead of any formal proceedings because the public “has the right to know.”
