By Cliff Potts, Editor-in-Chief, WPS News
BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE, Philippines, November 15, 2026 — 1900 PHT
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Reporting: The Defense Takes the Stand
Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial has entered a new phase, and testimony from one of her own defense witnesses has raised fresh questions about her financial dealings.
After prosecutors withdrew three of the original four impeachment articles in October, the Senate impeachment court is now considering only Article II, involving alleged unexplained wealth, inaccurate financial disclosures, and prohibited business interests.
The defense began presenting its case on November 9. Within days, testimony concerning payments from a Davao City corporation became one of the most closely examined developments in the proceedings (GMA News Online, 2026a).
The trial has not produced a verdict, and Duterte continues to deny wrongdoing.
Senate Admits Financial Records
Before the defense began, the impeachment court issued a November 5 order admitting substantial portions of the prosecution’s documentary evidence.
The records include Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), bank transactions, tax documents, property records, corporate filings, and reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
The court rejected the defense’s broad argument that the financial investigation constituted an improper fishing expedition.
However, the ruling also established limitations. Records predating Duterte’s assumption of the vice presidency on June 30, 2022, may be used to establish her earlier financial position, but not to prosecute separate alleged offenses from that period.
Evidence relating exclusively to the three withdrawn impeachment articles was also excluded (Philippine News Agency, 2026a).
The ₱2.14 Million Question
The most significant new testimony came November 11 from attorney Suzette Balucanag-Punay, corporate counsel for GenCorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corporation.
Appearing as a defense witness, Punay acknowledged that Duterte received approximately ₱2.14 million from GenCorp between 2022 and 2025.
She described the payments as returns of capital from an earlier investment connected to a Jollibee franchise operation in Davao City.
According to testimony reported by GMA News, the arrangement involved an investment originally made through Davao Bounty Times Food Corporation. The proposed franchise subsequently operated through another corporate entity that eventually became GenCorp (GMA News Online, 2026b).
The problem arose when senator-judges questioned the documentation.
Punay acknowledged that she could not produce written records establishing the original investment amount or the precise financial arrangements supporting the payments.
She also testified that Duterte was not listed as a GenCorp shareholder, officer, or director.
Senator-judges questioned how the company could classify repeated payments as returns of capital without sufficient documentation establishing the underlying investment (Philippine News Agency, 2026b).
Capital Returns or Business Profits?
Another issue emerged when senators questioned whether the payments represented capital returned to Duterte or profits generated by the business.
These are not necessarily equivalent.
A return of capital generally means an investor receives money previously contributed to an enterprise. Profit represents a financial gain beyond the amount originally invested.
That distinction may matter when evaluating Duterte’s financial disclosures and business interests.
During questioning, Punay also acknowledged that Duterte earned profits from the investment, according to GMA News (GMA News Online, 2026c).
The testimony does not establish that the payments were unlawful. It does, however, leave unresolved questions about the original investment, the character of the payments, and whether the financial arrangements were properly disclosed.
Defense Shortens Its Witness List
Duterte’s lawyers are attempting to conclude their presentation without unnecessary delays.
On November 12, defense spokesperson Michael Poa said the team expected to present approximately eight to ten additional witnesses.
The defense has indicated that it wants to complete its evidence presentation as efficiently as possible while retaining the opportunity to address the remaining allegations (GMA News Online, 2026d).
The impeachment court has scheduled proceedings to resume on November 19, following a temporary interruption associated with security arrangements for the ASEAN summit.
Additional hearings are expected November 20.
Restrictions on Public Commentary
The Senate impeachment court has also reinstated restrictions on public statements concerning the merits of the case.
The ruling extends to the three withdrawn impeachment articles as well as the remaining charge.
The restrictions apply to covered participants, including prosecutors, defense lawyers, and senator-judges, and are intended to protect the proceedings from inappropriate public commentary (Philstar.com, 2026).
Editorial Analysis: When the Defense Creates More Questions
The November 11 testimony illustrates a recurring problem in cases involving public officials and private financial interests.
A defense witness may provide an explanation intended to resolve an allegation while simultaneously revealing details requiring additional scrutiny.
That appears to be the situation involving GenCorp.
The defense has offered an explanation for Duterte’s payments: an earlier investment generated returns that continued during her vice presidency.
The unresolved issue is whether the documentation supports that explanation and whether the transactions complied with applicable financial-disclosure and constitutional requirements.
Receiving investment income is not automatically corruption.
Likewise, the absence of a particular document does not necessarily establish wrongdoing.
But when a company sends substantial payments to a sitting vice president, the public has a legitimate interest in understanding the financial relationship.
As we have observed in earlier WPS News coverage:
“There are a lot of things considered normal in the United States that shouldn’t be normal.”
— Cliff Potts, Editor-in-Chief, WPS News
Financial relationships between public officials and private businesses deserve scrutiny regardless of country, political affiliation, or family name.
That principle applies equally to Duterte and to those investigating her.
The prosecution must establish the alleged misconduct with reliable evidence. The defense must have a meaningful opportunity to challenge that evidence and explain disputed transactions.
What Comes Next?
The immediate focus is November 19, when Duterte’s defense is scheduled to continue presenting witnesses.
The GenCorp testimony has introduced specific financial questions that senator-judges may expect the defense to address through records and additional testimony.
For WPS News, the significant development is not that Duterte has been found guilty. She has not.
It is that testimony from her own defense has placed additional financial transactions under scrutiny at precisely the stage when her lawyers are attempting to explain the remaining unexplained-wealth allegations.
The case continues, the defense is presenting its evidence, and the Senate has yet to decide whether Article II establishes impeachable misconduct.
APA-Style Source List
GMA News Online. (2026a, November 6). Impeachment court admits VP Sara’s SALN, AMLC records into evidence.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/content/1008504/impeachment-court-admits-vp-sara-s-saln-amlc-records-into-evidence/story/
GMA News Online. (2026b, November 11). Sara Duterte had ‘loose investment’ in GenCorp, received P2.14M — witness.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/1009095/sara-duterte-had-loose-investment-in-gencorp-received-p2-14m-witness/story/
GMA News Online. (2026c, November 11). VP Sara earned profits from GenCorp., says firm’s counsel.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/1009154/vp-sara-earned-profits-from-gencorp-says-firm-s-counsel/story/
GMA News Online. (2026d, November 12). Sara Duterte defense team eyes 8 to 10 more witnesses in impeachment trial.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/1009298/sara-duterte-defense-team-eyes-8-to-10-more-witnesses-in-impeachment-trial/story/
Philippine News Agency. (2026a, November 6). Impeachment court admits VP Sara financial records, restores gag rule.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/article/impeachment-court-admits-vp-sara-financial-records-restores-gag-rule
Philippine News Agency. (2026b, November 12). Senator-judges question missing proof of VP Sara’s P2.14-M payouts.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/article/senator-judges-question-missing-proof-of-vp-saras-p214-m-payouts
Philstar.com. (2026, November 9). Senate court keeps gag rule on withdrawn Sara impeachment articles.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/11/09/2568973/senate-court-keeps-gag-rule-withdrawn-sara-impeachment-articles
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