Baste Duterte under oath: Never talked biz with VP sis

菲律宾达沃市市长否认与副总统有商业往来

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte faced sustained prosecution questioning on Tuesday over 19 city government contracts worth P33.2 million awarded to GenCorp Industries Inc., a company his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, declared as a business interest. During the hearing, Duterte maintained that he had no discussions with his sister regarding the contracts.

背景：Duterte家族商业利益调查

The case centers on allegations that Mayor Duterte awarded contracts to GenCorp Industries Inc., a company owned by his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte. The contracts, which were awarded between 2018 and 2021, have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and the use of public funds for private gain.

合同细节

The 19 contracts, worth a total of P33.2 million, were awarded for various city projects, including road construction, waste management, and public infrastructure improvements. The contracts were awarded through a bidding process, but the prosecution argues that the process was flawed and that the contracts were awarded unfairly.

当事人回应

During the hearing, Mayor Sebastian Duterte maintained that he had no discussions with his sister regarding the contracts and that the bidding process was conducted in accordance with the law. He stated that the contracts were awarded based on merit and that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing.

公众反应

The case has sparked widespread public debate about the role of family ties in government contracts and the need for transparency in public procurement. Critics argue that the contracts awarded to GenCorp Industries Inc. raise serious questions about the integrity of the bidding process and the potential for conflicts of interest.

结语

The hearing is part of a broader investigation into the Duterte family's business interests and their involvement in government contracts. The case has drawn significant attention and will likely continue to be a topic of public debate in the coming months.