Who is Baste Duterte in VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial?

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte on Tuesday serves as the prosecution’s witness on the 31st day of the impeachment trial of her sister, Vice President Sara Duterte.

He was called to testify and produce Davao City government records involving transactions with GenCorp Industries Inc. which the prosecution team alleges is linked to the vice president. 

After the prosecution team cited basis to characterize Baste Duterte’s testimony as hostile or adverse to the prosecution team, the respondent’s younger brother was declared by the court as a hostile witness.

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Having served as Davao City mayor for years 2022 to present, or during the same time that the city made transactions with Gencorp, Baste Duterte’s testimony was offered for the following reasons:

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• He is familiar with Gencorp, having approved, in 2022-2025, 15 contracts for food and catering services awarded by the city to Gencorp
• As the Davao City Mayor, he was also the Head of Procuring Entity for all awards made by the city government
• To confirm that the total amount of the awards made to GenCorp from the city was P34.2 million
• That he was familiar with Mr. Jaime T. Cruz, the major stockholder of Gencorp as he himself is a co-stockholder of Cruz in another corporation.

READ: Baste Duterte arrives at Senate for VP impeachment trial

Prior to his mayoral role in Davao City from 2022-2025, Baste Duterte also served as Davao City’s vice mayor in 2019 to 2022.

Baste Duterte was elected vice mayor of Davao City in the May 2025 elections but he later took over the seat of his father, former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who then won as mayor. 

Rodrigo Duterte was unable to assume office as he has been detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands for his crimes against humanity charges in connection with his administration’s war on drugs.

Baste Duterte studied Legal Management at San Beda College for a year before studying Political Science at Ateneo de Davao University. /jpv