Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is scheduled to testify on Tuesday, September 29, in the ongoing Senate impeachment trial of his sister, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
The Davao City mayor submitted a formal request to the Senate impeachment court seeking additional time to comply with document requirements, prompting a adjustment in the schedule.
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced receipt of Mayor Duterte’s letter, which requested permission to appear on September 29 and 30 rather than Monday, citing the need for “substantial time to gather, organize, authenticate and reproduce the subpoenaed documents.”
“The Presiding Officer grants the request of Mayor Duterte to appear tomorrow and Wednesday, which, again, is covered by the subpoena issued already, so there is no need to issue another subpoena,” Escudero ruled.
House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon confirmed that the prosecution will call Mayor Duterte to the stand on Tuesday following testimony from Police Maj. Jerickson Sangalang, chief of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office Records Division.
“Your Honor, that is correct, Your Honor,” Ridon replied when asked about the sequence of witnesses.
Mayor Duterte was subpoenaed as House prosecutors continue submitting evidence under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which centers on allegations of unexplained wealth and undisclosed business interests involving the Vice President.
Prosecution attorneys plan to question the mayor regarding his sister’s declared business interests and various municipal transactions in Davao City. Prosecutors also intend to petition the impeachment court to classify Mayor Duterte as a hostile witness once his testimony begins.
In a related procedural update, the prosecution withdrew its subpoena for Atty. Gary Samonte of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Regional Office XI. Escudero granted the motion to cancel Samonte’s scheduled appearance.