Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged that a company owned by Vice President Sara Duterte’s
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged that a company owned by Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband received over P319 million from China-linked sources, while investigations examine multi-million-peso financial flows across the Duterte family network. The Duterte camp threatened criminal charges in response.
Cale88 Foods Corp Receives Millions from China
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV stated on Friday that Cale88 Foods Corp., a company owned by Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, received more than P319 million from the Chinese government and corporations based in China. Incorporated in 2021 with a declared paid-up capital of P125,000, the firm presented itself as a banana-chip exporter. Trillanes detailed that the company reported no sales in 2021 and only P20,000 in 2022, before sales climbed to P23 million in 2023 and P150 million in 2024, followed by a decline in 2025. Financial figures cited from corporate filings also showed a monthly electricity bill of about P8,000, zero rank-and-file employees in 2024 with only two in 2025, and a tax payment of P10,705 on P150 million in reported 2024 sales.
Kongresista Jinky Luistro first identified Cale88 Foods Corp. as a recipient of money from China based on documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). Ace Barbers subsequently flagged nearly P500 million in total China cash flows moving through the Vice President’s network, noting the funds were absent from her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
Sammy Uy Issued Checks to Duterte Family
Alongside the corporate disclosures, Trillanes presented AMLC-validated records indicating that Sammy Uy, whom he identified as a Davao drug lord and political contributor, issued manager’s checks to members of the Duterte family between 2011 and 2013. Trillanes alleged that Sara Duterte received about P22 million through three checks worth P7.44 million each while serving as Davao City mayor. Representative Paolo Duterte allegedly received P38.8 million across four checks, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte received P51.6 million across five checks, and former president Rodrigo Duterte received about P15.6 million.
House Prosecution Adviser and Spokesperson Ace Barbers stated that these disclosures are serious allegations regarding unexplained wealth that must be thoroughly examined rather than dismissed. Malacañang backed the probe into the funding claims.
Responses and Denials from the Chinese Embassy and Duterte Camp
The Chinese Embassy in Manila strongly rejected the allegations, labeling them a false narrative aimed at political gain. Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng condemned the accusations in a statement, urging individuals in the Philippines to stop political manipulation and keep domestic politics separate from bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, the Duterte camp announced it mulls filing criminal charges against Trillanes over the claims concerning China money and drug remittances. The impeachment trial proceedings are scheduled to examine the underlying AMLC documents and corporate records.