Senator-judges question missing proof of VP Sara's P2.14-M payouts

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MANILA – Four senator-judges on Wednesday questioned the lack of documentary evidence establishing the basis for the PHP2.14 million received by Vice Preside...

QUESTIONED PAYOUTS. GenCorp Industries Inc. corporate counsel Suzette Balucanag-Punay (in black) testifies before the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday (Nov. 11, 2026). Senator-judges questioned the lack of documentary evidence supporting the PHP2.14 million received by Vice President Sara Duterte from 2022 to 2025, particularly the claim that the payments represented a return of capital rather than investment earnings. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – Four senator-judges on Wednesday questioned the lack of documentary evidence establishing the basis for the PHP2.14 million received by Vice President Sara Duterte from GenCorp Industries, Inc. between 2022 and 2025, while challenging claims that she had no participation in the company's business operations.

During the 42nd day of Duterte's impeachment trial, GenCorp in-house counsel Suzette Balucanag-Punay admitted that she could not produce contracts or other verifiable records establishing the amount of Duterte's original investment, which supposedly justified the payments.

"I did not find any verifiable document. So, I cannot produce paper out of thin air. So, apologies if I cannot give a figure," Punay told the Senate impeachment court.

Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo questioned how the PHP2.14 million could be considered a return of capital when the only amount identified in the incorporation documents of Davao Bounty Times Food Corp., where Duterte's investment reportedly originated, was PHP46,000.

Punay clarified that the amount appeared in the corporation's incorporation papers and did not necessarily represent Duterte's entire investment.

"So anong patunay ka meron na talagang return of capital 'yon at hindi yung dibidendo (So what proof do you have that it was really a return of capital and not dividends)?" Tulfo asked.

Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo likewise questioned why Duterte received annual payments if these merely represented the return of her original investment.

"Kung return of capital, ma'am, bakit every…

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