SEC records show VP Sara Duterte remained corporate director during vice presidency term

Vice President Sara Duterte remained listed as a board director and stockholder of a private corporation throughout the first three years of her vice presidency, according to official records presented during her impeachment trial on Monday.

Testifying on the 27th day of the proceedings, Gerardo del Rosario, director of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Company Registration and Monitoring Department, confirmed that Duterte appeared in Metro City Chow Foods Corporation’s annual filings as both a shareholder and board member from 2022 to 2025.

The disclosure directly addresses a central question raised by the prosecution: whether Duterte’s ongoing corporate involvement violates constitutional bans on business participation by top executive officials.

During cross-examination, private prosecutor Erwin Matib zeroed in on how corporate directors are chosen, underscoring that board membership requires an active shareholder vote.

“Sino po bang namimili ng magiging members ng board of directors?” Matib asked.

“Ang director po ay ini-elect po ng mga shareholders,” Del Rosario replied.

Matib then emphasized Duterte’s continuous reappointment across multiple annual filings.

“So may eleksyon ho? Mukhang taon-taon po may eleksyon at laging nananalo si VP Sara sa pagiging director sa kompanyang ito,” Matib noted.

According to SEC documents, Duterte held 500 shares in Metro City Chow Foods Corp. and was consistently identified as a stockholder and board member from 2022 through 2025. Earlier filings show she was one of the firm’s original incorporators when it was established in 2016, later joining its board in 2018.

“Lumalabas po dito na member po ng board of directors si Vice President Sara mula 2022 hanggang 2025. Kelan po na-elect na vice president si respondent Sara Duterte?” Matib asked, establishing the timeline. Duterte assumed the vice presidency on June 30, 2022.

The SEC previously confirmed her name appeared as both a shareholder and director in the company’s General Information Sheets (GIS) filed between 2022 and 2025.

Matib also prompted Del Rosario to review the statutory constraints governing high-ranking officials. Del Rosario cited Article VII, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution, which explicitly prohibits the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and their deputies or assistants from directly or indirectly engaging in business or holding financial interests during their tenure.

The Supreme Court has previously described these restrictions as "sweeping, all-embracing prohibitions," emphasizing that the Constitution imposes stricter standards on senior executive officials to prevent conflicts of interest.

Furthermore, Republic Act No. 6713—the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees—mandates that public officers resign from private enterprise roles within 30 days of assuming office and fully divest their shareholdings within 60 days.

-Paraluman News