MANILA — The Chinese Embassy on Monday denied allegations that Beijing funneled millions of pesos to businesses and organizations linked to Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and her husband, Manases Carpio, warning Philippine politicians against dragging China into domestic political controversies.
The denial came amid allegations by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV that funds originating from the Chinese government were transferred to entities associated with the Vice President and her husband, including P150 million supposedly intended for classroom construction.
Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng condemned what he described as attempts by certain Philippine politicians to manufacture allegations of Chinese financial involvement in local political affairs.
“We strongly condemn and firmly oppose such malicious rhetoric and actions,” Ji said.
He accused some Philippine politicians of having “fabricated and spread a false narrative” about alleged Chinese financial support for a local political faction.
The embassy also disputed what it described as the improper association of its official website with the allegations.
Trillanes earlier claimed that Duterte-Carpio and her husband received millions of pesos in remittances from the Chinese government through Cale88 Foods Corp.
He further alleged that the Vice President’s Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines Inc. received P150 million from the Chinese Embassy, supposedly to finance the construction of 13 classrooms.
The former senator maintained that documents and contracts allegedly obtained from various government agencies supported his accusations.
However, the Chinese Embassy rejected the purported funding arrangements and cautioned against exploiting China-Philippines relations for domestic political purposes.
Ji urged Philippine politicians to “stop political manipulation and not to drag Philippine domestic politics into China-Philippines relations.”
He warned that “smearing and discrediting China and harming China’s interests and image” for politics “will ultimately undermine the interests of the Philippines and its people.”
The controversy emerged after the House prosecution panel dropped Trillanes from its list of witnesses in Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial, prompting the former senator to publicly disclose his allegations outside the Senate impeachment court.
The prosecution has also been scrutinizing the Vice President’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth as part of the impeachment proceedings.
Among the financial interests presented during the proceedings was Duterte-Carpio’s declared business involvement in Gencorp Industries Inc., which House prosecution spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur described as Chinese-owned.
Another individual identified in connection with the Vice President’s business interests was Jaime T. Cruz, her reported business partner, who served as the Philippines’ special envoy to China from 2019 to 2022 under former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The allegations have raised questions about the Vice President’s reported business connections and purported financial links to China, although no conclusive evidence establishing the alleged Chinese government funding has been presented in the supplied report.
Duterte-Carpio’s camp has rejected accusations concerning her financial interests, while the Chinese Embassy has categorically denied the alleged funding arrangements.
Trillanes’ claims remain disputed./PN
