MANILA— Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday said some companies that transferred funds to Cale88 Foods Corporation are Chinese state-owned enterprises, citing their alleged links to the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Hontiveros raised the matter while questioning Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Atty. Ronel Buenaventura on Day 34 of the impeachment proceedings.

Buenaventura had earlier confirmed that Cale88 received P319,326,770.41 in remittances from China and Hong Kong.

Cale88 had listed Duterte’s husband, Atty. Mans Carpio, as an incorporator and shareholder before he divested his interest in the company in 2025.

“Tiningnan ng opisina ko ‘yung mga binanggit na kumpanya kahapon, at lumabas na ilan sa mga nagpadala ng pera sa Cale88 ay mga Chinese state-owned enterprises,” Hontiveros said.

She specifically cited Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group, which she said was a Chinese state-owned enterprise.

“Bakit po mahalaga ito, Atty. Buenaventura? Dahil itong Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group ay hindi ordinaryong kumpanya. It’s a Chinese state-owned enterprise. It advances the interest of the Chinese Communist Party,” she added.

Tulfo asks AMLC official about transactions

Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo separately asked Buenaventura whether the AMLC had found discrepancies in the bank transactions involving Duterte and Carpio since 2007.

“Sir, marami po kayong pinakitang mga dokumento, mga bank accounts ng prosecution kahapon at kanina, may nakikita ka bang discrepancy sa mga transaction ng mag-asawang Carpio at Duterte sa kanilang mga bangko since 2007?” Tulfo asked.

Buenaventura said his testimony was limited to records subpoenaed by the AMLC and included in its files.

“Your honor, what I can only report po ay ‘yung na-subpoena po sa amin at ‘yun lang po ‘yung nailagay sa records—,” Buenaventura replied.

Tulfo pressed the witness for a direct answer.

“Kaya nga po, may nakikita po kayong discrepancy?” Tulfo clarified.

Buenaventura said he could not determine whether there was a discrepancy because he was not familiar with the couple’s complete business interests and profiles.

“Sa perspective ko po, your honor, hindi ko po masabi dahil hindi ko naman po naaral or alam particular lahat ng mga business interest or profile po nung dalawa, except po alam ko lang po na si VP po ay VP po ngayon,” the witness said.

Tulfo presses witness on possible conflict of interest

Tulfo also asked Buenaventura whether he saw a possible conflict of interest involving transactions between Duterte or corporations linked to her and foreign state-owned companies.

“Bilang abogado, may conflict of interest ka bang nakikita na ang VP, kumpanya ni VP, o corporations nakikipag-transaksyon sa foreign state-owned company like China? Bilang abogado, Sir. Do you see any conflict of interest here?” Tulfo asked.

“‘Di ko po masagot, Your Honor. Hindi ko po masagot on that one, Your Honor. Pasensya na po,” the witness answered.

“I understand, you wanna play safe,” Tulfo replied.

Prosecution links testimony to Trillanes allegation

The House prosecution said the AMLC testimony appeared to support an allegation previously raised by former senator Antonio Trillanes against Duterte.

Trillanes had cited Cale88’s alleged receipt of more than P319 million from China during a recent press conference after deciding not to testify in the impeachment proceedings.

The AMLC testimony confirmed that P319,326,770.41 in remittances from China and Hong Kong flowed into Cale88, according to the information presented during the trial.