Palace warns China-linked funds to VP's husband could be betrayal if proven
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday said allegations that a company linked to Vice President Sara Duterte's husband received more than P319 million from China deserve serious attention, and if proven, could amount to a betrayal of the nation.
Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV made the claim in a press conference, pointing to CALE88 Foods Corp., a food company partly owned by Atty. Mans Carpio. Trillanes said the cash remittances from China raise serious national security concerns, especially given the ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
What did Trillanes allege about CALE88 Foods Corp.?
Trillanes flagged several red flags about the company, including reportedly low electricity costs despite operating as a banana chip manufacturer, zero trade receivables and payables, and the absence of rank-and-file employees. He also cited the P319 million in cash remittances that he claimed the firm received from China.
He compared this with the P150 million donation that the Tapang at Malasakit Foundation, which lists Duterte as a member of its board of trustees, reportedly received from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.
“Dapat kilabutan po tayo dito... Bawal po iyan. Bawal tumanggap from a foreign government, especially high-ranking official ang vice president,” Trillanes said. (We should be alarmed by this... This is not allowed. It is prohibited to accept money from a foreign government, especially for a high-ranking official like the vice president.)
He added: “Kapag hindi pa ba impeachable iyan, ewan ko nalang. Nagbubulag-bulagan tayo.” (If that's not grounds for impeachment, then I don't know what is. We're turning a blind eye.)
How did Malacañang respond to the allegations?
Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a statement that the allegation, if proven true, may explain why some officials are tight-lipped when China harasses the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.
“Kung sapat ang ebidensya, hindi ito dapat isawalang bahala,” Castro said. (If there is sufficient evidence, this should not be ignored.)
Castro went further, saying that public officials who remain silent about violence against Filipino fishermen or who are willing to give away parts of the country's territory could be considered traitors.
“Maituturing na pagtataksil sa bayan ang mga Filipino lalo na kung sila ay mga public official na kaya pala tahimik sa mga karahasang natatanggap ng iba nating mangingisda sa kamay ng mga dayuhan at ang iba naman ay handang ipamigay ang parte ng ating teritoryo o karapatan sa WPS ay dahil natatapalan ng pera ang kanilang mga mata para talikuran ang pagmamahal sa sariling bayan at ibenta ang ating kalayaan,” Castro said. (It could be considered an act of betrayal of the country when Filipinos, especially public officials, remain silent about the violence being inflicted on some of our fishermen by foreign forces, while others are willing to give away parts of our territory or our rights in the West Philippine Sea because they have been blinded by money.)
Castro stressed that the administration was not passing judgment at this point but said the public should be made aware of the allegations if sufficient evidence exists.
“Ang mga kumukunsinte sa ganitong gawain ay dapat na kalusin hindi bukas... kundi ngayon! Huwag natin hayaan ang ibang opisyal pa natin ang siyang dudurog sa sarili nating bansa. Gumising tayong lahat!” she said. (Those who tolerate such acts should be dealt with, not tomorrow, but now! Let us not allow our own officials to be the ones who destroy our country. We must all wake up!)
Why did Trillanes not testify in the impeachment trial?
The former senator was supposed to testify for the prosecution on Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which involves allegations that Vice President Sara Duterte has unexplained wealth and failed to declare assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
Lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, however, told the impeachment court on Thursday that the prosecution would no longer present Trillanes as a witness.
Trillanes later said in a Facebook post that he had asked Luistro to remove him from the witness list to relieve pressure on the prosecution panel. He said he would instead disclose during Friday's press briefing what he had intended to present before the impeachment court.
What happens next in this controversy?
The Palace has not formally launched an investigation, but Castro's statement signals that the administration is taking the matter seriously. The public is now waiting to see whether the Senate impeachment court will take up the new allegations, and whether the Commission on Audit or other agencies will look into CALE88 Foods Corp.'s finances.
For now, the ball is in the court of the investigators. But one thing is clear: in a country where fishermen are harassed and territories are contested, any official who takes foreign money while staying silent on national sovereignty will face the judgment of the people.