Baste Duterte Faces Questions Over Sara Duterte’s Alleged GenCorp Interest
BASTE DUTERTE – A new development in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case has placed Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte under scrutiny over GenCorp transactions.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte said he did not know about his sister Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged interest in GenCorp Industries Inc., even though government procurement records show the company secured multiple contracts with the city during his tenure as mayor.
The issue surfaced during the Senate impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte, where government procurement official Rendell Sopeña testified that GenCorp obtained 49 government contracts valued at P35.878 million between July 21, 2022, and June 23, 2026.
According to Sopeña, the Davao City government awarded 15 of those contracts, totaling P34.2 million. GenCorp also secured 33 contracts from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and another contract from the Davao regional office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro presented Sopeña as the fourth prosecution witness for Article 2 of Sara Duterte’s impeachment case. The article covers allegations involving unexplained wealth, inaccurate asset declarations, and failure to divest business interests.
Luistro pointed out that Baste, who was serving as Davao City mayor when the transactions took place, approved the Bids and Awards Committee resolution connected to the contracts.
In a statement, Baste maintained that the city’s dealings with GenCorp followed proper procedures. He also clarified earlier reports about the value and number of contracts, saying there were 19 contracts worth P33.26 million, with 13 already completed and six still ongoing.
“I, and all other officials and employees of the City Government of Davao, never had any knowledge of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte holding an interest in GenCorp Industries Inc.,” he said.
Baste added that neither “Sara Zimmerman Duterte” nor the surname “Duterte” appeared in GenCorp’s corporate records submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission in relation to the city transactions.
“Any claim otherwise shall be duly supported with verified evidence and reliable documents,” he said.
“All 19 transactions have been duly processed, reported, and published on the [PhilGEPS] portal,” Baste said.
However, SEC records presented during the impeachment proceedings showed a difference between GenCorp’s corporate documents and Sara Duterte’s own declarations. SEC official Gerardo del Rosario testified that Sara was not listed as an incorporator or stockholder in GenCorp’s corporate filings from 2020 to 2025.
Her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, meanwhile, reportedly identified her as an incorporator or stockholder of GenCorp from 2016 through 2025.
Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan questioned Baste’s claim that he was unaware of the matter. “Yes, if he says he does not know then the correct phrase is he ought to know as mayor,” she said.
Kapunan further described Baste’s statement as a “confession,” while Baste urged critics to examine official procurement records rather than rely on what he called “deceptive claims and orchestrated narratives.”
The impeachment court has subpoenaed Baste to testify from Sept. 28 to 30. He was also ordered to submit certified and electronic copies of Davao City records concerning GenCorp and related entities.
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