Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte may be subjected to cross-examination techniques by House prosecutors, who plan to request that the Senate impeachment court officially declare him a hostile witness during his upcoming appearance.
House prosecution legal spokesperson and counsel Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. stated that the mayor’s testimony is vital to supporting Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which addresses claims of unexplained wealth and scrutinizes the financial declarations of his sister, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
“We will ask the court to declare him as a hostile witness,” Tolosa said during the Saturday News Forum.
Should the impeachment tribunal grant the motion, prosecutors would gain the procedural right to pose leading questions to the mayor on the witness stand.
“If you’ll be able to show that ‘yung interest of the witness are adverse to the party calling him, then ma-qualify ho siya as a hostile witness,” Tolosa explained.
Mayor Duterte was summoned after House prosecutors requested subpoenas for key figures while expanding their review beyond the Vice President’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) to evaluate public and corporate documentation. The tribunal subsequently issued the order requiring his attendance.
A central point of inquiry involves Gencorp Industries Inc., an entity disclosed by Vice President Duterte in her financial filings. House prosecutors are seeking to verify whether Gencorp secured contracts or engaged in business transactions with the Davao City local government during Mayor Duterte’s administration, as well as the terms governing any potential deals.
Prosecution officials emphasized that Mayor Duterte has been summoned strictly to supply testimonial evidence and is not facing personal charges in the impeachment proceeding.