Defense: No proof Sara Duterte, husband's millions came from Chinese gov't

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team maintained that there is no proof directly linking millions of pesos in her and her husband’s bank accounts to funds from the Chinese government.

In a “24 Oras” report by Joseph Morong on Tuesday, transaction records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) showed that an estimated P4.4 billion went in and out of the accounts of the Vice President and her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio, from 2007 to 2025.

Meanwhile, over P5.3 billion in covered and suspicious transactions were flagged across 15 companies linked to the couple. Among these is Cale88 Foods Corporation, which reportedly received an estimated P319 million from China and Hong Kong.

The Vice President also declared Cale88 in her 2025 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

“Records of AMLC show that China, as a country, funneled funds to Cale88, correct?” Defense lawyer Mark Vinluan asked AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, who was called as a witness.

“As far as I recall and based on record, there is no showing here,” Buenaventura answered.

The defense team also asserted that having recorded transactions does not automatically mean the money went directly to the Vice President and her husband.

“Does the AMLC have any record of how much of these transactions by Cale88 Foods Corporation redounded to the benefit of VP Sara and Attorney Mans?” Vinluan asked the witness.

“Redounded the benefit, Your Honor. There is none. There's none,” Buenaventura answered.

State-owned companies

During interjections by some senator-judges, they flagged several companies recorded in the transactions as state-owned Chinese entities.

“Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group, it's a Chinese state-owned enterprise. It advances the interests of the Chinese Communist Party,” Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros pointed out.

“Sa mismong corporate governance structure, Xinjiang Fruit, by institutional Chinese Communist Party organization na naka-embed. It has its own Chinese Communist Party committee, party committee organization department, and 11 subordinate subcommittees or party branches,” she added.

(In its very corporate governance structure, Xinjiang Fruit has an embedded Chinese Communist Party organization. It has its own Chinese Communist Party committee, party committee organization department, and 11 subordinate subcommittees or party branches.)

Meanwhile, Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo circled back to Cale88, asking whether it was suspicious that millions of pesos entering the company originated from countries with a critical reputation for money laundering.

“Hindi ba kaduda-duda na karamihan sa milyones na pondo na pumasok sa Cale88 ay galing sa mga bansang may kritikal na reputasyon sa money laundering gaya ng Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan [at] South Africa?” Tulfo asked the witness.

(Is it not suspicious that most of the millions in funds that entered Cale88 came from countries with a critical reputation in money laundering, such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and South Africa?)

“Your Honor… I cannot make a conclusion,” Buenaventura responded.

Mismatch

Duterte’s defense team maintained that a suspicious transaction report (STR) is not a sufficient basis to conclude that the Vice President engaged in illegal transactions.

Vinluan confirmed with Buenaventura whether the filing of an STR is merely a compliance measure rather than a legal determination of unlawful activity.

The witness affirmed this, stating that it is a legal requirement and that no illegality can be concluded solely on the basis of the report.

“It’s therefore not a legal conclusion that there is money laundering, correct? Vinluan asked.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Buenaventura answered.

However, presiding officer Senator Chiz Escudero raised concern that even if Duterte’s declared SALN from 2022 to 2025 and her total salary from 2007 to 2025 were combined, the amount would still fail to match the total value of AMLC transactions.

“It totaled P336M… Hindi pa rin umabot ng P424M. What would explain this huge amount? Posible ba ‘yung in and out?” Escuero asked.

(It totaled P336 million… It still does not reach P424 million. What would explain this huge amount? Is it possible that this represents money moving in and out of the accounts?)

“Hindi ko po masagot, hindi ko po nakita ‘yung SALN. Spread din po as reported to us,” Buenaventura said.

(I cannot answer that; I have not seen the SALN. The amounts were also spread out as reported to us.)

Buenaventura also confirmed, upon questioning by Senator Bam Aquino, that billions of pesos passed through the accounts. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/LDF, GMA News