MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s declaration of a business interest in Gencorp Industries Inc. in her 2024 and 2025 Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) was “not an honest mistake,” House impeachment team spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said.

Duterte listed Gencorp among her business interests and financial connections in both SALNs, despite Securities and Exchange Commission records presented during the impeachment proceedings not showing her as a stockholder or director of the company.

“The higher is the one declaring the asset. Okay? Dapat doon natin paniwalaan. Because that’s her SALN. Sinumpaan niya ’yon. Dineclare niya ’yon sa dalawang taon,” Alonto Adiong said at a post-trial press briefing.

“It was not an honest mistake. Believe me, ladies and gentlemen, it was not an honest mistake,” he added.

The discrepancy came under scrutiny after Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System Division Chief Rendell Sopeña testified that Gencorp secured 49 government contracts worth P35,878,188 during Duterte’s term as vice president.

The Davao City government awarded Gencorp 15 contracts worth P34,216,900, while the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Region XI awarded 33 contracts worth P1,331,288 and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region XI awarded one contract worth P330,000.

SEC official Gerardo del Rosario earlier testified that the corporate records presented to the Senate impeachment court did not identify Duterte as a Gencorp stockholder or director.

Alonto Adiong said Duterte’s sworn declaration should be given weight because acknowledging an interest in Gencorp could run counter to her supposed interest in the prosecution’s allegation that she failed to divest from business interests upon assuming office.

“In same application that she declared in her SALN, ‘Akin ’yan, meron akong business interest diyan,’ that would rank contrary supposedly to her interest, by virtue of the article that we have mentioned na dapat mag-divest siya,” Alonto Adiong said.

“So on that note, on that premise alone, dapat doon tayo maniwala kay VP Sara. Kasi kami sa prosecution, paniwalang-paniwala kami sa kanya na kanya ’yung kumpanya na ’yon,” he added.

House impeachment team adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers likewise pointed to Duterte’s sworn declaration.

“So ’yun ang paniniwala natin. Ang tao, umamin na, ‘Akin ’yang company na ’yan.’ At bukod diyan, ito’y sinumpaan ng ating Pangalawang Pangulo,” Barbers said.

Barbers said either scenario—the SALN declaration reflecting an actual interest or the SEC records failing to reflect one—would require an explanation.

If Duterte had an interest in Gencorp, he said prosecutors would examine it alongside the company’s contracts with the Davao City government, where her brother, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, serves as mayor.

If the SEC records do not reflect the interest declared in Duterte’s SALNs, Barbers said that discrepancy would likewise have to be explained.

“So either way.. Medyo it needs a lot of explanation,” Barbers said.

Prosecutors are also reviewing Duterte’s 2022 and 2023 SALNs, which listed Timesquare Bee Foods Corp., to determine its possible connection to Gencorp and whether the companies underwent changes in name or management.

The records were presented under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which includes allegations concerning Duterte’s wealth declarations and alleged failure to divest from business and financial interests.