Politics · Philippines Bureau
Senate queries food firm's 19 contracts awarded by Davao City
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian pressed Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte on Tuesday over how a catering company connected to Vice President Sara Duterte secured 19 contracts over five years. The questioning occurred during the vice president's impeachment trial.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday challenged Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte on the awarding of multiple contracts to a food catering firm with ties to Vice President Sara Duterte, as the mayor testified as a hostile witness in his sister's impeachment proceedings.
Gatchalian repeatedly raised questions about why the company, identified as GenCorp, had won all 19 contracts awarded by Davao City over a five-year period. The line of inquiry focused on the pattern of contract awards and potential irregularities in the procurement process.
The questioning underscored ongoing scrutiny of financial dealings and government contracts in the Duterte family's home city. Mayor Duterte appeared reluctant during his testimony, prompting the designation as a hostile witness in the proceedings against the Vice President.
The impeachment trial, which began in late September, centers on allegations against Vice President Duterte. The contract award pattern raised during the proceedings has drawn broader attention to procurement practices and oversight mechanisms in Davao City government.