House Deputy Speaker and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V said Vice President Sara Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), along with government contracts awarded to GenCorp Industries Inc., are key documents in the impeachment case involving alleged conflicts of interest.
Speaking during the prosecution’s press briefing on Wednesday, Ortega pointed to Duterte’s declaration of an interest in GenCorp in her SALNs, while the company secured contracts from the Davao City government. House prosecutors have cited records showing GenCorp obtained 19 Davao City government contracts worth more than P33 million.
“Kailangan po natin maintindihan, mas madaling intindihin na ang smoking gun dito hindi tao, ang smoking gun dito yung SALN, yung mga kontrata, yung dokumento,” Ortega said.
He also cited the testimony of Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who testified on Tuesday as a hostile witness and acknowledged that GenCorp secured contracts with the city government. Baste maintained that he was not aware of his sister’s reported interest in the company before it was raised during the impeachment proceedings.
Baste also told the impeachment court that he would not have allowed contracts with GenCorp had he known that Sara Duterte was a stockholder of the company.
“I would not allow it,” Baste said when asked whether he would have permitted the contracts if he knew of his sister’s ownership interest.
Ortega argued that Baste’s position as Davao City mayor also carries accountability over transactions conducted by the local government.
“Kung hawak mo yung kapangyarihan, hawak mo rin yung accountability,” Ortega said, adding that the prosecution considers the SALN and procurement records important in establishing its allegations.
He further questioned Baste’s claim that he was unaware of his sister’s interest in GenCorp, saying the prosecution considers the documents and testimony relevant to the alleged conflict of interest.
“Again, the smoking gun is the SALN,” Ortega said. “Ang SALN na yun, yun ang dokumento na nagpapalakas lalo ng ebidensya na nag-violate sila ng Konstitusyon na yung hindi dineklara nang tama.”
The impeachment proceedings are currently focused on Article II, which concerns allegations of unexplained wealth, inaccurate disclosures and business interests involving the Vice President. GenCorp has been central to the prosecution’s presentation of government and corporate records.
