Pangilinan notes Cale88 ownership change after P1.25B in transactions

MANILA, Philippines —Senator-Judge Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan questioned on Tuesday the change in Cale88 Foods Corp.’s ownership after Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records allegedly showed over ₱1.25 billion in transactions from 2022 to 2025.

Pangilinan recalled Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) testimony that lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, held 47.5 percent of Cale88 from 2021 through 2024.

He noted, however, that Carpio’s name no longer appeared in the company’s 2025 General Information Sheet and was replaced instead by Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corp.

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READ: Trillanes vindicated anew? AMLC says Carpio firm got P319-M from China

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“Given the latest information that we have obtained from the AMLC, should we now also look into Pikimong Pikimong?” Pangilinan asked.

Ronel Buenaventura, AMLC executive director, said the aggregate reported transactions of Cale88, which was incorporated in September 2021, were ₱1,254,736,297.08 from 2022 to 2025.

He said the AMLC table did not provide a yearly breakdown, but the records presented to the court covered transactions in those years.

Pangilinan also recalled testimony that Cale88 did not file audited financial statements with the SEC for 2024 and 2025.

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Private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia agreed, adding: “In fact, there was a penalty for nonfiling of financial statements.”

She said audited financial statements were attached to Cale88’s annual income-tax returns filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

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She also challenged the supposed transfer of Carpio’s shares to Pikimong Pikimong.

“It is our humble submission, Your Honor, that there was no valid transfer,” Divinagracia said.

“There is no record of any eCAR (electronic certificate authorizing registration) documenting the transfer from Attorney Mans Carpio to Pikimong Pikimong,” she added.

READ: VP Duterte camp disputes AMLC confirmation of China funds to Carpio firm

Divinagracia also cited Duterte’s statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) as of Dec. 31, 2025.

“Even in the 2025 SALN of the vice president, she still disclosed Cale88 as among the business interests,” she said.

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Pangilinan remarked: “There are many things that could be asked of the SEC and then the BIR.” /atm