BUSINESSMAN Jaime T. Cruz, who appears alongside Vice President Sara Z. Duterte in corporate records presented in her impeachment trial, also had ties to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who appointed him special envoy to China and later offered him the top post at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
The connections came under scrutiny Tuesday as Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo questioned Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo del Rosario about Cruz’s recurring presence in companies linked to the Vice President.
Del Rosario confirmed that Cruz’s name appears in the incorporation records of Metro City Chow Foods Corp., Great Jolly Times Food Corp., Davao New Royal Taipan Foods Corp., Davao Emerging Taipans Corp. and Davao Bounty Times Food Corp.
Cruz and Duterte were both original subscribers in Metro City Chow Foods. SEC records showed Cruz as the largest original subscriber and Duterte as the second largest. Both remained listed as shareholders and directors in the company’s 2025 General Information Sheet (GIS).
“Lumalabas po ’yung pangalan ni Jaime T. Cruz sa Metro City Chow Foods Corporation, based po sa Articles of Incorporation,” Del Rosario said.
Cruz is also linked to Gencorp Industries Inc., which Duterte declared as a business interest in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth despite her name not appearing in its incorporation documents or GIS.
JTC Group of Companies Philippines Inc. is Gencorp’s largest corporate subscriber, holding 55% of the company, with Cruz representing JTC in Gencorp’s records.
Tulfo asked Del Rosario whether “JTC” stood for Jaime T. Cruz, but the SEC official said the company’s incorporation papers contained no such disclosure.
The senator-judge then asked the House prosecution whether the Cruz appearing in the corporate records was the same person appointed by former President Duterte as special envoy to China for trade and investments.
“Yes,” private prosecutor Erwin Matib replied when Tulfo asked whether they were the same person.
Matib also confirmed that Cruz was the businessman offered the top post at PhilHealth during the Duterte administration.
Former President Duterte appointed Cruz as special envoy to China for trade and investments in October 2019. Earlier that year, Duterte offered the JTC Group chief executive the post of PhilHealth president and chief executive officer, but Cruz declined the offer.
The prosecution is tracing Duterte’s corporate and financial interests as part of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which includes allegations involving unexplained wealth and her asset declarations.
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