NSC to probe alleged China money sent to Sara Duterte-linked firm

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The National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday said it would look into alleged financial inflows from China into a company linked to the family of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a statement, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Oban Jr. said the NSC is taking seriously the related developments presented during the ongoing impeachment trial of the Vice President.

"The NSC takes seriously the information presented during the impeachment proceedings regarding reported financial inflows from China into a Philippine-based company associated with the family of Vice President Sara Duterte," Oban said.

He noted that information presented during the proceedings must first be properly examined through established legal processes.

Oban said the reported transactions involving significant foreign financial flows and any credible information that could have implications for national security warrant a "careful, in-depth, and responsible assessment."

"The NSC will look into the information presented and, as a matter of policy, continue to task the intelligence and investigative agencies and coordinate with relevant government institutions to assess the national security implications, if any, arising from the reported transactions," he said.

In his testimony on Day 33 of the trial, Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said Cale88 Foods Corporation, a company linked to Duterte's husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, received P319 million from China and Hong Kong.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who was considered to stand as a prosecution witness in the impeachment trial, claimed in a press conference on Friday that the Duterte couple accepted P150 million and P319 million through their separate organizations.

Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro has urged Trillanes to submit evidence regarding his claims so these could be "thoroughly investigated," saying these "raise serious implications for national security."

Over the weekend, the vice president's spokesperson Atty. Paolo Panelo said accusations that Duterte has links to China because she allegedly received funds from the Chinese are without basis.

Panelo said, "May donation ng Chinese government sa Tapang at Malasakit [Foundation], and the Vice President is one of the trustees. Awtomatikong agad na sinusuportahan ng Chinese government si Vice President?"

(There is a donation by the Chinese government to the Tapang at Malasakit Foundation, and the Vice President is one of the trustees. The Chinese government is automatically supporting the Vice President.)

"What if it was used to build classrooms? Or what if it was used for charitable purposes at may resibo (Or what if it was used for charitable purposes and there is a receipt)?" he added.

Also on Monday, the Chinese Embassy in Manila branded as a "false narrative" the allegations that China funneled funds to a political faction in the Philippines, calling these "malicious rhetoric and actions."

The embassy did not name any Philippine party, but urged "relevant individuals in the Philippines to stop political manipulation and not to drag Philippine domestic politics into China-Philippines relations." — VDV, GMA News