Palace Questions Duterte Mayor's Claimed Ignorance of VP's Business Ties

MANILA — Palace officials on Wednesday questioned the credibility of Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte's claim that he had no knowledge of his sister Vice President Sara Duterte's financial interest in Gencorp Industries Inc.

The statement from Malacañang came after Mayor Duterte testified during the resumption of the impeachment trial on Tuesday, asserting he was uninformed about the VP's business dealings with the company.

Palace spokespersons noted that such a lack of awareness would be difficult to reconcile given the family's close ties and the public nature of corporate ownership structures. Officials suggested that individuals in positions of responsibility should have adequate knowledge of significant financial interests held by immediate family members, particularly those in high office.

The questioning of Mayor Duterte's testimony marks a significant development in the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte. The matter centers on alleged undisclosed business interests and potential conflicts of interest related to Gencorp Industries.

The case continues to draw scrutiny as lawmakers and officials examine the extent of the Vice President's corporate involvement and whether proper disclosures were made to relevant authorities.