Amid questions over Vice President Sara Duterte’s continued business interests, Malacañang on Tuesday said government officials should comply with the law and divest from their business interests while in government service.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro made the remarks after Securities and Exchange Commission records presented during the Senate impeachment trial revealed that the Vice President is still a director and shareholder of Metro City Chow Foods Corp.
“May batas po. Maliwanag ang batas. So, kung ano po iyong nasa batas iyon lang dapat po ang sundin, iyon ang dapat na ipatupad at hindi po kinakailangan na ang isang tao ay maging above the law,” Castro said in a press briefing.
She added: “Hindi po dapat pinapairal iyong salitang impunity. So, kung ano lang po iyong sa batas dapat tuparin.”
Earlier this week, SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo del Rosario testified that Duterte is still listed as a member of Metro City Chow Foods’ board of directors in its General Information Sheets from 2022 to 2025.
SEC records also showed that she has a 20-percent stake in the company. Duterte was among its incorporators when it was established in 2016.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the President, Vice President, Cabinet members and their deputies or assistants are prohibited from engaging in business during their tenure.
Castro declined to comment if the Palace is surprised that Duterte, a lawyer, was not advised to divest from her business interests.
“Hindi na po kami magkokomento diyan. Si VP Sara naman ay malaki na at hindi na dapat binibigyan ng anumang advice, alam niya na po ang kanyang ginagawa,” she said.