Sara Duterte on alleged Chinese remittance to Cale88: ‘Bawal ba talaga magnegosyo with China?’
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday noted that numerous Philippine firms do business with China, when asked to address allegations that Chinese state-owned enterprises remitted P319 million to Cale88, a firm linked to her husband Manases Carpio.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said over the weekend that the Department of National Defense was “thoroughly investigating” the alleged Chinese remittances, calling it a “threat at the highest level” if proven true.
“Nakakabahala ito na manggaling yung ganyang pahayag mula kay BBM dahil parang inamin na rin niya na simula noong 2023 ay itinuring nila akong threat… Pangalawa, nakakabahala ito dahil parang sinasabi niya na iyung mga nagnenegosyo na may trade sa China ay threat din sa bansa,” Duterte said.
“Napakarami nun na mga negosyo na ang export nila or import nila ay galing China,” she said.
During Duterte’s impeachment trial last week, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura testified during the that Cale88 Foods Corporation, a company in which Duterte’s husband had a business interest, received P319.33 million in inward remittances from mainland China and Hong Kong.
Senator-Judge Risa Hontiveros said the businesses that remitted money to a Duterte-linked corporation are allegedly Chinese state-owned entities, based on her investigation.
But Duterte alleged that the impeachment case against her was “crumbling” due to lack of evidence.
“Bumabagsak na yung kaso nila kaya binibilisan kasi wala na, wala na silang masabi. Nag-iimbento ka ng ebidensya,” the Vice President said. “Sa simula pa lang yung impeachment complaint mo walang annexes. walang attached pieces of evidence tapos gumawa ka, nag-imbento ka ng ebidensya. Nagsisinungaling, nag-iimbento kaya bumabagsak yung kaso kaya nag-shift na yung narrative sa China-China ngayon.”
“So ano ba talaga? Bawal ba talaga magnegosyo with China kasi it’s a national security risk?” she said.