Investigation links Vice President Sara Duterte’s declared firm to multimillion-peso Davao food contracts

While covering the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, a reporter at one outlet examined government procurement data and identified Gencorp as a beneficiary of food supply contracts worth millions of pesos from Davao City Hall and the PhilHealth Davao Regional Office. The company is listed in Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, yet her name does not appear in the SEC filing for Gencorp.

Further digging revealed that Jaime Tan Cruz, a businessman linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte and former special envoy to China, is a shareholder in the firm. The investigation prompted the impeachment court to question the Vice President’s unexplained wealth, and Davao Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte was called to testify about the contracts, claiming he was unaware of his sister’s involvement. The case highlights potential conflicts of interest in local government procurement.