The House prosecution panel argued that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte committed a direct violation of the 1987 Constitution by maintaining her seat on the board of a private corporation following her assumption of the vice presidency in 2022.
During Duterte’s impeachment trial, prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong cited Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings indicating that Duterte was listed as a director of Metro City Chow Foods Corp. continuously from 2022 through 2025.
“Pero ’yung mga lahat po ng dineclare niyang mga kumpanya o negosyo kung saan director siya, ’yung saan shareholder siya, hindi po siya nag-divest,” Alonto Adiong stated in a media briefing.
“So this is a clear violation. Mas malinaw po ito kaysa sikat ng araw ’yung tahasang pag-violate ng ating Constitution under Article VII, Section 13,” he added.
The prosecution’s argument centers on Article VII, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution, which explicitly prohibits the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and their deputies or assistants from holding any other office, practicing a profession, or participating in any business during their tenure. The charter also forbids these top officials from holding financial interests in government contracts, franchises, or special privileges, mandating that they avoid conflicts of interest.
Testifying before the impeachment court, SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo Fernando Del Rosario addressed questions from private prosecutor Atty. Erwin Matib regarding corporate governance rules and constitutional boundaries. Asked whether a sitting Vice President could concurrently serve on a corporate board, Del Rosario pointed to the specific constitutional restrictions barring the nation’s highest officials from engaging in business operations while in office.
Del Rosario confirmed that Metro City Chow Foods Corp.’s General Information Sheets (GIS) submitted to the regulatory agency continued to name Duterte as a board member throughout her vice presidency.
“Ayon po sa GIS nila, from 2022 hanggang 2024, si VP Sara Duterte po ay member pa rin po ng board of directors,” Del Rosario testified.
For the subsequent period, he added, “member pa rin po siya ng board of directors sa GIS ng 2025.”
The corporate filings further identified Duterte as a member of the firm’s Compensation Committee during those same years. Del Rosario explained to the court that a board of directors is legally entrusted to exercise corporate powers, execute business, and control company assets.
“Hindi po siya makakapag-conduct ng business kung wala po siyang board of directors,” Del Rosario noted during his testimony.
Duterte formally assumed office as Vice President of the Philippines on June 30, 2022.
The SEC records were introduced into evidence as part of the prosecution’s presentation under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which addresses allegations regarding Duterte’s business dealings and undisclosed wealth. Matib stated at the opening of Del Rosario’s direct examination that the prosecution sought to establish the ongoing corporate holdings and executive roles maintained by Duterte and her husband, attorney Manases Carpio, while she held public office.
By presenting the SEC filings, the prosecution aims to demonstrate that Duterte did not simply retain passive financial shares in Metro City Chow Foods Corp., but actively held formal executive and governance positions on its governing board and Compensation Committee during her term as Vice President.
This evidence aligns with prior expert testimony delivered to the court by retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, who cited Article VII, Section 13 to highlight the strict legal prohibitions preventing a sitting President or Vice President from engaging in commercial enterprise.