THE allegations made by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that China had allegedly funded a business and foundation linked to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her family must be investigated by proper authorities, House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said Sunday.
Speaking in an interview over dzBB’s “Bantay Balita sa Kongreso” with Nimfa Ravelo and Isa Avendaño Umali, Alonto Adiong said the allegations, which include claims that the Tapang at Malasakit Foundation and Cale88 Foods Corp. received more than P319 million from the Chinese government, are too serious to dismiss.
“Well, definitely, kung ito’y may allegation ng ganito—ganito ang association ng foundation na ito sa mga Chinese nationals, especially kung ang name-mention na mga pangalan ay may mga records na nasasali sila sa mga illicit business transactions, mga illegal business transactions tulad ng illegal drugs, eh talagang kailangan itong tingnan nang maayos,” he said.
Duterte is reportedly a member of the board of trustees of the Tapang at Malasakit Foundation, while Cale88 Foods Corp. is a banana chip maker owned by her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio.
Alonto Adiong said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is among the bodies that could investigate the allegations, given its mandate as an investigative body.
“Well, I think partly NBI. That’s one, no? Pupwede. Kasi investigative body naman ng NBI. And these are serious allegations. So titingnan natin, without preempting, what would be the possible course of action following this revelation. Mukhang hindi ito dapat binabalewala, no?” he said.
The trial spokesperson said the allegations carry implications that go beyond the impeachment trial itself. If proven, he said, the claim that a foreign country has been coursing its influence into the Philippines through financial channels could constitute “direct interference” in the country’s political and electoral landscape.
“Pinaguusapan po natin kung mayroon man itong connection doon sa pag-iinterfere ng isang foreign country sa isang—tulad halimbawa ng political—sa ating political landscape, no? It will be a direct interference kung meron mang interference in our elections,” he said
Alonto Adiong clarified that he was not aware Trillanes would raise these specific allegations. What he knew of, he said, were the former senator’s existing claims about the Duterte family’s bank records and their alleged transactions with businessman and suspected drug lord Sammy Uy.
He explained, however, that the prosecution’s immediate focus remains on what the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s (AMLC) records can establish — specifically, that financial transactions flowing through Duterte’s accounts were never fully reflected in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
The question of sources, including the Chinese money allegations, will still require corroboration from other authorized individuals and bodies, he said, which is where AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura’s testimony becomes crucial.
“As to the sources, ‘yun po ‘yung hindi natin masasabi. We need also to confirm from other individuals, kasi unang-una, ang task talaga ng prosecution ay ipakita na hindi naging transparent at mayroong violation siya doon sa SALN policy, sa batas na dapat ideklara ang kanyang SALN,” he said.
Still, Alonto Adiong reiterated that the implications of the allegations are too significant to set aside, particularly given the broader questions they raise about foreign influence in Philippine affairs.
“Sabi ko nga, kaya mga eyebrow-raising itong mga revelation na ito,” he said.
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