MANILA — House prosecution spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Monday said Vice President Sara Duterte’s continued membership on the board of a private company after she assumed office in 2022 constituted a “clear violation” of the constitutional restriction against government officials participating in business.

Alonto Adiong based the assertion on Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) records presented during Duterte’s impeachment trial showing that she remained listed as a director of Metro City Chow Foods Corp. from 2022 through 2025.

“Pero ’yung mga lahat po ng dineclare niyang mga kumpanya o negosyo kung saan director siya, ’yung saan shareholder siya, hindi po siya nag-divest,” Alonto Adiong said during a press briefing.

“So this is a clear violation. Mas malinaw po ito kaysa sikat ng araw ’yung tahasang pag-violate ng ating Constitution under Article VII, Section 13.”

During Monday’s proceedings, private prosecutor Atty. Erwin Matib asked SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo Fernando Del Rosario whether Duterte could remain a member of a company’s board after assuming the vice presidency.

Del Rosario cited the constitutional restrictions covering the President, Vice President, Cabinet members and their deputies or assistants, including the prohibition against holding another office or employment, practicing another profession or participating in business during their tenure.

Article VII, Section 13 of the Constitution also prohibits these officials from being financially interested in government contracts, franchises or special privileges and requires them to avoid conflicts of interest.

Del Rosario testified that Metro City Chow Foods’ General Information Sheets (GIS) continued to list Duterte as a member of its board of directors after she assumed office.

“Ayon po sa GIS nila, from 2022 hanggang 2024, si VP Sara Duterte po ay member pa rin po ng board of directors,” he said.

For 2025, Del Rosario testified: “Member pa rin po siya ng board of directors sa GIS ng 2025.”

The records also continued to identify Duterte as a member of the company’s Compensation Committee.

Del Rosario explained that a corporation’s board of directors exercises its corporate powers, conducts its business and controls its properties.

“Hindi po siya makakapag-conduct ng business kung wala po siyang board of directors,” he testified.

Duterte assumed office as vice president on June 30, 2022.

The SEC records were presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which covers allegations involving unexplained wealth and Duterte’s business interests.

At the beginning of Del Rosario’s testimony, Matib said the prosecution would use SEC records to establish Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio’s, interests and positions in several companies, including those maintained during her tenure as vice president.

The prosecution is seeking to establish that Duterte not only retained an ownership interest in Metro City Chow Foods but also continued serving on its board and Compensation Committee while holding the vice presidency.

The prosecution’s position is also consistent with earlier testimony from retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, who cited Article VII, Section 13 in discussing the constitutional restrictions applicable to a sitting president or vice president.