Senator-Judge Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday raised questions about the origin of about PHP319.33 million in remittances received by Cale88 Foods Corp. after her office traced some of the sending entities to Chinese state-owned firms.

Cale88 is a food company linked to lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, whose financial records are being examined in the impeachment trial.

“Lumalabas na ilan sa nagpadala ng pera sa Cale88 ay mga Chinese state-owned enterprises (It appears that some of those that sent money to Cale88 are Chinese state-owned enterprises),” Hontiveros said.

Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records presented before the Senate impeachment court placed remittances from mainland China and Hong Kong to Cale88 at PHP319,326,770.41.

Hontiveros said research by her office identified China National Township Enterprises as among the remitting companies and traced the firm to China’s state-owned agricultural sector.

She also raised the case of Beijing Zhenweifang Food Co., which her office linked through investment and strategic cooperation to Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group, another Chinese state-owned enterprise.

Hontiveros said Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group’s corporate structure includes a Communist Party committee and subordinate party branches, prompting her to ask whether AMLC had examined the background and affiliations of companies behind the remittances.

AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura said the agency’s appearance before the court was limited to records covered by the subpoena and did not extend to an investigation of the corporate affiliations cited by Hontiveros.

“At this point po, yung na-cover po nung subpoena is only on the records (what is covered by the subpoena is only the records),” Buenaventura said.

Asked whether the links raised by Hontiveros were a cause for concern, Buenaventura said he would first need to review the information presented before making any assessment.

The remittances form part of the financial records being scrutinized by senator-judges as the prosecution presents evidence under the article involving the alleged unexplained wealth of the Vice President. (PNA)