Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday alleged that nearly PHP470 million from China flowed into a company linked to Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband and a foundation associated with the Vice President, raising what he described as a national security concern in the impeachment case.

In a press briefing at Club Filipino in San Juan City, Trillanes presented piece evidence that he intended to bring before the Senate impeachment court, which includes more than PHP319 million from the Chinese government and China-based corporations that allegedly went to Cale88 Foods Corp., a company established by Duterte’s husband, Manases Carpio.

Another PHP150 million, he alleged, was received by the Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines Inc. from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

“Galing sa Chinese government at mga korporasyon na base at nag-o-operate sa China. Pumasok PHP319 million mahigit papunta doon sa Cale88 na kumpanya ni Mans Carpio (It came from the Chinese government and corporations based and operating in China. More than PHP319 million went to Cale88, the company of Mans Carpio),” Trillanes said.

He said the PHP319-million figure was based on research conducted by his team but acknowledged that the supporting records had yet to be presented publicly.

“Makikita n’yo ‘yan (You will see that) in the coming days,” he said, adding that House prosecutors were aware of the information.

The PHP150-million amount, meanwhile, was supported in Trillanes’ presentation by a document that he said showed the transfer to the foundation.

Trillanes said the alleged transactions carry national security implications considering Duterte’s position as the country’s second-highest official.

The allegation involving Cale88 comes as the company’s foreign remittances are set to become part of the impeachment proceedings.

House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro confirmed Thursday that records submitted by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) include summaries of inward remittances to Cale88 from China and other countries.

Trillanes also questioned Cale88’s financial profile, saying corporate records showed paid-up capital of PHP125,000 while sales climbed from PHP20,000 in 2022 to PHP23 million in 2023 and PHP150 million in 2024.

He said the company’s financial statements showed total declared sales of about PHP208.49 million during the period examined, while his team’s research indicated that more than PHP300 million entered the company.

Trillanes said he would turn over his findings to House prosecutors, allowing them to pursue the transactions through other witnesses and documentary evidence even without putting him on the stand.

Still On Defense Witness List

Meanwhile, Trillanes said he had asked prosecutors to withdraw him but later questioned why the impeachment court did not issue a subpoena previously requested for him, saying the “signal is clear” that he was not welcome.

Impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol disputed the assertion.

“Wala po. Wala po. Kasi wala naman pong ganyang ipinakiwari yung ating impeachment court, mga senator-judges, kay former senator Trillanes (None. The impeachment court and the senator-judges have not given former senator Trillanes such an impression),” Tongol said in a separate press briefing.

“I think that will be a baseless assumption kasi we have to base everything on the actions of the court (I think that will be a baseless assumption because we have to base everything on the actions of the court),” he added.

Tongol said prosecutors had requested a subpoena for Trillanes the previous week, but his name was not among those identified when Presiding Officer Francis Escudero asked on Monday which witnesses they intended to present.

When prosecutors raised the possibility of presenting Trillanes the following day, Escudero said there was no longer enough time to reasonably serve the subpoena, although prosecutors remained free to present him voluntarily.

“Walang pagpipigil po dahil ready naman po ang impeachment court para doon sa kanyang mga testimonya (There was no attempt to prevent him because the impeachment court was ready for his testimony),” Tongol said.

He said Trillanes remains listed as the 10th common witness in the pre-trial order, meaning the defense could also present him during its case. (PNA) | (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)