PASAY CITY, Philippines — Several senator-judges on Tuesday, October 6, pressed for a deeper inquiry into alleged financial ties linking Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, to state-owned companies in China as the Senate Impeachment Court intensified its review of the couple’s business interests.
During the 34th day of the impeachment trial, the House prosecution panel revealed it is weighing steps to subpoena the financial records of the Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines following inquiries raised by Senator Bam Aquino regarding potential donations originating from China.
“The matter about the possible donations from China was already brought up. Will there be any move to get the records of Tapang at Malasakit Alliance?” Aquino asked.
“We are considering it, Your Honor,” replied Atty. Mae Divinagracia, a member of the prosecution team.
The development came after Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura on whether his office is tracking Cale88Foods Corporation—a firm tied to Carpio—over ₱319.33 million in monitored remittances from China and Hong Kong.
Hontiveros cited research from her office showing that funds sent to Cale88 originated from Chinese state-owned enterprises, including China National Township Enterprises, a entity previously under China’s Ministry of Agriculture.
She also pointed to corporate ties involving Beijing Jianweifang Food Company and the Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group, describing the latter as a state enterprise with an embedded Chinese Communist Party structure.
“The reason I’m asking is because my office is looking into this, and the companies mentioned yesterday and it turned out that the money remitted to Cale88 were from Chinese state-owned enterprises,” Hontiveros said.
“So my question, Atty. Buenaventura is, are these linkages being investigated by AMLC?” Hontiveros asked.
Buenaventura declined to address the specifics, explaining that the AMLC’s present scope is strictly limited to the documents subpoenaed by the court.
“At this point, those covered by the subpoena is only on the records. Apologies, I cannot help in responding to your question, but I am unable to answer to that question at this point, Your Honor,” he stated.
When asked if such financial connections present grounds for concern, Buenaventura noted that the decision ultimately rests with the impeachment trial judges.
“I have to review what you mentioned. I wasn’t able to get everything, Your Honor, but we take note of what you brought up,” he added.
In testimony delivered Monday, Buenaventura submitted official AMLC records detailing ₱319,326,770.41 in inward foreign remittances to Cale88, consisting of ₱315.94 million from mainland China and ₱3.39 million from Hong Kong.
He noted that at least three of these transactions were flagged as suspicious due to a lack of clear trade obligations, underlying legal purpose, or economic rationale.