SEC official testifies he cannot verify Duterte's corporate shareholdings

MANILA – The Securities and Exchange Commission's Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo Del Rosario told the impeachment court that he cannot personally verify whether Vice President Sara Duterte holds substantial stockholdings or interests in corporations allegedly linked to her.

Del Rosario's testimony came during Day 28 of Duterte's ongoing impeachment trial, where lawmakers are examining allegations related to her personal business interests and financial dealings. The SEC official stressed that his competence is limited to reviewing corporate records and registration documents, rather than determining actual beneficial ownership or hidden interests.

The testimony underscores the technical limitations the impeachment proceedings face in establishing direct connections between the Vice President and specific corporate entities. Del Rosario indicated that proving personal knowledge of shareholdings would require evidence beyond what the SEC's administrative records contain.

Duterte's impeachment case, which centers on her conduct and fitness for office, has moved through multiple days of witness testimony as prosecutors and lawmakers attempt to build their case against the Vice President. The trial continues to draw significant public and political attention as it unfolds in Congress.