Prosecution seeks to label Davao Mayor Baste Duterte as hostile witness in VP impeachment

The House panel handling Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment will request that the Senate impeachment court label Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte a hostile witness. Benjamin Tolosa Jr., speaking at a Quezon City forum, explained that the prosecution sees the mayor’s potential conflict of interest, citing his position and ties to firms mentioned in the vice president’s SALN, such as Gencorp Industries. A subpoena was already issued to Baste Duterte last Wednesday.

Declaring him hostile would allow prosecutors to pose leading, yes-or-no questions. The panel has also called an assistant commissioner of the Civil Service Commission, a Securities and Exchange Commission representative, a PhilHealth Region XI official, and a PNP firearms and explosives officer to testify on related matters.