Former China envoy Jaime Cruz linked to Sara Duterte, Carpio firms

Former Special Envoy to China Jaime T. Cruz, who served under former President Rodrigo Duterte, is the same person listed in the corporate records of firms linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, the prosecution panel said Tuesday.

Private prosecutor Erwin Matib made the disclosure after Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo asked whether Cruz, who was appointed special envoy to China for trade and investment, was the same person listed as either an incorporator or board member in the corporate records of firms linked to the Vice President and Carpio.

“Yes, Your Honor. Same name, same person,” Matib said.

Tulfo raised the issue while questioning prosecution witness lawyer Gerardo Del Rosario, director of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Company Registration and Monitoring Department, who was testifying on the corporate records of companies allegedly linked to Duterte and Carpio, including their incorporators, directors and shareholders.

During Tulfo's questioning, Del Rosario said Cruz's name appeared in the corporate records of the following companies:

• City Hall King Chow Foods Corporation
• Metro City Chow Foods Corporation
• Great Jolly Times Food Corporation
• Davao New Royal Taipan Foods Corporation
• Davao Emerging Taipan Corporation
• Davao Bounty Times Food Corporation

Del Rosario earlier told the court that Cruz was the top subscriber of Metro City Chow Foods Corporation, with 1,997 shares, followed by Vice President Duterte, who held 500 shares.— MCG, GMA News