AMLC: No trace of China’s P319-M Cale88 remittance

AMLC: No trace of China’s P319-M Cale88 remittance | Daily Tribune

“Do the records of AMLC show that the China-based entities that you mentioned represented China or the Chinese government itself?” Vinluan asked.

“As far as I recall from yesterday, there was no mention of it,” Buenaventura replied.

Vinluan followed up: “No records of AMLC show that China as a country funneled funds to Cale88. Correct?”

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

Vinluan then asked if the AMLC records showed that the China-based entities were not legitimate business entities.

“No, there was nothing in the records,” Buenaventura replied.

Buenaventura testified that three Cale88 transactions were flagged as suspicious because they lacked an underlying legal or trade obligation, purpose, or economic justification.

His testimony came after the AMLC presented records showing that Cale88 had received P319.33 million in inward remittances — about P315.94 million from China and P3.39 million from Hong Kong.

Cale88 has been linked to lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte. Its transactions are under scrutiny in connection with impeachment allegations over the Vice President’s unexplained wealth and undisclosed financial and business interests.

Hontiveros flags state-owned firms

While the defense questioned whether the AMLC records established a link between Cale88’s Chinese remitters and the Chinese government, Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros separately raised questions about the ownership and government links of some of those companies.

Hontiveros said research by her office indicated that some companies identified in the AMLC records as having sent money to Cale88 were Chinese state-owned enterprises.

She cited the China National Township Enterprises which appeared in the AMLC records as one of Cale88’s remitters. Hontiveros said her staff found the company had been directly under China’s Ministry of Agriculture before becoming a large state-owned agricultural enterprise.

She also cited Beijing Jianweifang Food Co. and its reported link to Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group, which she described as a Chinese state-owned enterprise with a Chinese Communist Party organization embedded in its corporate governance structure.

“So my question is, Atty. Buenaventura, does the AMLC look into these linkages?” Hontiveros asked in Filipino.

Buenaventura said he could not answer because the subpoena issued to the AMLC covered only the records presented before the impeachment court.

“At this point, the subpoena only covered what was on the records,” he replied.

Asked if the transactions and corporate links were a cause for concern, Buenaventura told Hontiveros he would need to review the information.

“I have to review what you mentioned. I didn’t get all the information but we will take note of what you said,” he answered.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged last week that Cale88, a company linked to Carpio, received P319 million from the Chinese government. He also alleged that a foundation linked to Duterte received P150 million from the Chinese Embassy.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila rejected the allegation that China had funneled money to a Philippine political faction, calling it a “false narrative” fabricated by certain Philippine politicians.