Sara Duterte’s business interests face scrutiny in impeachment trial

Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte are shifting focus toward corporate and procurement records to investigate allegations of unexplained wealth. The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to resume proceedings on Monday, with several key witnesses expected to testify regarding the Vice President’s declared business interests and government transactions.

Witnesses lined up for testimony include Civil Service Commission Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo, who will address rules governing the filing of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director Gerardo del Rosario, who is tasked with authenticating records for companies linked to Duterte. Additionally, Rendell Sopeña of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System is expected to provide testimony and records concerning government contracts involving entities in which Duterte reportedly holds an interest, specifically including contracts involving Gencorp Industries Inc.

This follows previous testimony from the Office of the Ombudsman, which authenticated Duterte’s SALNs. Evidence presented suggests the Vice President continued to list various business interests following her election in 2022.