‘Funds from China, drug lord went to Dutertes’

MANILA, Philippines — About P319 million in funds from Chinese government and corporate sources entered businesses and a foundation linked to the Duterte family, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged yesterday, adding that these funds should be examined as part of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

At a press conference in San Juan, Trillanes presented what he described as documents and findings of his research team on the Duterte family’s business and financial ties.

He alleged that more than P319 million entered Cale88 Foods Corp., which he linked to the Vice President’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, while another P150 million went to the Tapang at Malasakit Foundation, where Duterte was identified as a member of the board of trustees.

Trillanes also alleged that members of the Duterte family received P181.6 million from businessman and alleged drug lord Sammy Uy between 2011 and 2013. Of the amount, P38.8 million allegedly went to Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, P51.5 million to Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, P53.2 million to Cielito Avanceña for Veronica Duterte and P15.6 million to former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Trillanes did not present the alleged payments before the Senate impeachment court because he was dropped as a prosecution witness.

The allegations were made as the Senate impeachment court examines Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth and business interests presented under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

The impeachment court has ordered banks, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Bureau of Internal Revenue and other entities to produce financial records involving Duterte, her husband and corporations linked to them.

The court has also been examining corporate records involving GenCorp Industries Inc. Duterte declared GenCorp as a business interest in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, but Securities and Exchange Commission records presented during the trial did not list her as a direct shareholder or corporate officer.

The SEC said JTC Group of Companies held a 54.99 percent stake in GenCorp, based on its 2025 General Information Sheet.

Allegations that the Vice President and her husband received millions in remittances from China cannot be dismissed as the country’s sovereignty is at stake, Palace press officer Claire Castro said yesterday.

“If there is sufficient evidence, it should not be ignored,” Castro said, adding that the administration would withhold judgment this time but stressed that Filipinos deserve to know the truth.

For his part, House prosecution adviser and spokesman Ace Barbers said that Trillanes’ latest disclosures deserve serious examination. “He identified a financial trail. And portions of that trail have already been independently corroborated by official records,” he said.

Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said that Trillanes’ decision to withdraw as a witness in the impeachment trial came as a surprise to the prosecution.

“It was a surprise decision because… we have been discussing the testimony of senator Trillanes for the longest time. We do not really know his personal reasons,” Kapunan told “Storycon” on One News yesterday.

“We respect that decision (to withdraw). But that does not mean that he cannot be recalled by the Senate-judges, by the presiding officer or by the prosecution itself,” she said, adding that there was a timing problem in the issuance of the subpoena.

Senate impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol dismissed claims that Trillanes was unwelcome at the trial, blaming House prosecutors for the subpoena mix-up and adding that the defense could still summon him.

Tongol said Trillanes’ subpoena was ready on Monday, but Rep. Terry Ridon failed to include him when asked who the prosecution would present this week.

Former Office of the Vice President personnel Jefry Tupas alleged that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) tried to bring him to Manila after receiving “verifiable threats” that he would be kidnapped by the Dutertes.

Tupas said that on Sept. 29, “NBI personnel led by Voltaire Rovira II, who is publicly identified as the Special Assistant for Mindanao Concerns, offered security to my family and me, which we politely declined.”

Tupas said that prior to NBI personnel showing up, NBI Director Melvin Matibag personally informed him in a phone call of the alleged kidnapping threat.

Matibag requested to meet with Tupas in Manila. Tupas said he asked for a formal invitation. Instead of a formal invitation, he was sent a subpoena dated Sept. 28.

Tupas claimed he and his family were being intimidated and threatened by the presence of unidentified and suspicious individuals around their homes and workplaces in Mindanao.?Tupas likewise maintained that the threat did not come from the Dutertes but from other parties.

“I am also issuing this statement to publicly address the alleged threat that the Dutertes will have me abducted. This is a claim that is simply unbelievable. I am confident that the Dutertes have no reason to cause me any harm,” he said. — Bella Cariaso, Helen Flores, Diana Lhyd Suelto, Daphne Galvez, Janvic Mateo, Neil Jayson Servallos

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