Trillanes questions Baste Duterte's remarks over VP Sara's business interests

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Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday questioned the statements made by Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte over the business interests of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Trillanes said all mayors in the Philippines could enter into contracts with their siblings and simply "feign ignorance" after the mayor's remarks during the Day 31 of the impeachment trial of his sister.

"Kung pwede ‘yung sinasabi niya, lahat ng mayor sa Pilipinas, pwede makipag-kontrata sa kapatid sa kanila. They will just feign ignorance. So think about that. Ayun ang implication dito," the former senator told reporters.

(If what he's saying is allowed, then all mayors in the Philippines could enter into contracts with their siblings. They will just feign ignorance. So think about that. That's the implication here.)

The mayor appeared before the impeachment court to testify about his sister's alleged link to GenCorp Industries, a company stated in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

But Baste maintained that he has no personal knowledge about his sister's business interests.

"We do not discuss it," the younger Duterte said when asked by House private prosecutor Theodore Te.

Sara Duterte declared GenCorp. Industries Inc. as one of her business interests in her 2024 and 2025 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

The Vice President’s name, however, is not reflected as one of the shareholders of GenCorp. Industries Inc. in the company’s records submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

When asked how he felt seeing the Davao mayor in person, Trillanes, a staunch critic of the Dutertes, said: "Nakita natin, at least finally up close nakita ko. Sana nakita rin ng kababayan natin yung nakita ko. Whatever that is, saka na lang natin i-elaborate."

(I saw [him]—at least I finally saw him up close. I hope the public also saw what I saw. Whatever that is, I'll just elaborate on it later.)

Moreover, Trillanes said that he is hoping to testify on Wednesday in relation to funds and bank accounts as the impeachment court tackles the Vice President's alleged unexplained wealth.

However, the impeachment court has yet to issue a subpoena to Trillanes.

"I hope to testify tomorrow. So abangan na lang natin ‘yun," he said.

(I hope to testify tomorrow. So let's just stay tuned for that.) —RF, GMA News