MANILA, Philippines — House prosecution panel spokespersons have questioned the timing of the July 2026 closure of two bank accounts belonging to Cale88 Foods Corporation, raising the possibility that the move was intended to conceal the company’s financial transactions as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte got underway.
Former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers and incumbent Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong raised the issue during a press conference at the Senate on Thursday, October 8.
Barbers noted that the accounts were closed in the same month the impeachment trial began.
“July 6 tayo nag-umpisa ng day one of the impeachment trial. Ang account na ito ng Cale88 ay sinara noong July 2026 din. Halos kasabay,” Barbers said.
During the trial, Security Bank Branch Banking Group Head Leslie Cham testified before the senator-judges that Cale88 had maintained two peso checking accounts, which were opened in August 2024 and October 2025. Both accounts were closed in July 2026.
Barbers questioned whether the timing was connected to an effort to hide the company’s financial activities.
“Ano ’yung puwede nating conclusion diyan? Siguro ay para may attempt na pagtakpan ’yung labas-pasok na financial transactions nitong Cale88 na ito,” he said.
Cale88 has drawn scrutiny in the impeachment proceedings because Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, held a 47.5% stake in the company through 2024. The firm was also listed among his business interests in Duterte’s 2025 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
The Vice President faces four articles of impeachment, including an allegation of unexplained wealth. This article is currently being examined in the high-profile trial and is among the charges for which the prosecution says it has substantial evidence.
Records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), presented before the impeachment court, showed that Cale88 recorded more than ₱1.25 billion in reported transactions from 2022 to 2025. These included approximately ₱319.33 million in remittances from companies based in China and Hong Kong.
Three transactions were flagged as suspicious after the reporting institution was unable to establish an underlying legal or trade obligation, purpose, or economic justification.
Adiong also questioned the decision to close the accounts, particularly if the company was generating income through food manufacturing and exports.
“Bakit mo naman isasara kung kumikita ka? Kung talagang ito ay kumpanyang nagma-manufacture ng pagkain at nag-e-export, bakit mo naman isasara ’yan?” Adiong asked.
He further questioned why the closures happened as the impeachment proceedings approached.
“At the time pa na malapit na ang impeachment. Bakit? Anong intention?” Adiong said.
The House prosecution panel has been seeking banking, corporate, and tax documents to examine Cale88’s financial dealings and business operations.
However, the prosecution has not presented the closure of the two accounts as conclusive evidence of wrongdoing. Barbers said the timing nevertheless raised questions about whether the company’s financial transactions were being concealed.