Jollibee enters the menu as impeach court scrutinizes Sara Duterte businesses

Graphics by Nico Villarete/Rappler

'Bida ang sarap, bida ang ebidensya,' prosecutor Terry Ridon quips

Even the country’s top fast food chain was not spared in the expansive investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.

Could Jollibee hold a piece of the smoking gun that the prosecution has been searching for to remove her from office?

Jollibee was implicated in the mess because documents show that its Bolton Street branch in Davao City is owned by Gencorp Industries Inc., described in one of government documents as a franchisee of the casual dining giant.

Duterte said in her sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) that she is a stockholder of Gencorp, although her name is not in Securities and Exchange Commission documents (SEC) filings of the company.

Other companies associated with the Vice President or her husband Mans Carpio are Metro City Chow Food Corporation, City Hall King Chow Foods Corporation, Timesquare Bee Foods Corp., and Great Jolly Times Food Corp.

The names of several of these companies appear to echo those of Jollibee and its sister fast-food chain, Chowking.

“This P2.1 billion in sales — these are restaurants, right? Are they Jollibee or Chowking?” Senator Kiko Pangilinan asked. “I would assume there are many Jollibee and Chowking franchises, which is why sales reached billions over a period of time.”

“One of the financial statements that the witness identified yesterday contains the word ‘Jollibee’ in reference to Gencorp,” prosecutor Erwin Matib said. “Yes, there are franchises.”

Jollibee Davao Bolton is a known hangout spot of the Dutertes. It is in the same building as the listed address of Gencorp.

Rappler previously reported that Gencorp has cornered at least P14 million in contracts with Davao City Hall since 2022, coinciding with the time that Sara became VP, and her brother Sebastian assumed the mayorship of their hometown.

The Davao City mayor later not only confirmed the existence of the deals, but even updated the actual total value of the contracts bagged by Gencorp — P33 million over 19 contracts. Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System division chief Rendell Sopeña told the impeachment court that there are 15 Gencorp-Davao City deals worth P34 million in its database.

The arrangement raises questions on conflict of interest, and potential violation of the Constitution. The 1987 charter explicitly prohibits the Vice President from having business interests while in office.

The Jollibee connection did not escape the prosecution and her critics, which used its slogan to take a swipe at the Vice President.

“Bida ang sarap, bida ang ebidensiya (the star is the flavor, the star is the evidence),” prosecutor Terry Ridon said.

“Inday, pa-Jollibee ka naman diyan (Inday, how about treating us to Jollibee),” former presidential adviser Ronald Llamas said in jest on Facebook.

Spectators of the trial might just be craving two things after Tuesday’s proceedings: a one-piece Chickenjoy, and an explanation from the Vice President. – Rappler.com