MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio accused her political opponents of fabricating evidence and shifting the focus of her impeachment trial to alleged financial transactions involving China, as she challenged claims that P319.33 million in remittances to a company linked to her husband posed a threat to national security.
Duterte-Carpio questioned the basis of the security concerns raised by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., arguing that commercial dealings with Chinese companies should not automatically be treated as threats to the Philippines.
Her remarks on Monday came after Marcos described the reported transactions as a potential high-level national security threat if proven true and disclosed that the Department of National Defense was conducting a thorough investigation.
“Nakakabahala ito na manggaling yung ganyang pahayag mula kay BBM dahil parang inamin na rin niya na simula noong 2023 ay itinuring nila akong threat… Pangalawa, nakakabahala ito dahil parang sinasabi niya na iyung mga nagnenegosyo na may trade sa China ay threat din sa bansa,” Duterte-Carpio said.
The Vice President suggested that the allegations were being used to discredit her politically as the country approaches the 2028 presidential elections.
She maintained that the impeachment case against her was weakening because of what she described as insufficient evidence, prompting her critics to introduce allegations involving China.
“Bumabagsak na ‘yung kaso nila kaya binibilisan kasi wala na, wala na silang masabi. Nag-iimbento ka ng ebidensya,” Duterte-Carpio said.
The controversy intensified following testimony last week by Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura during Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial.
Buenaventura disclosed that Cale88 Foods Corp., a company in which the Vice President’s husband, Manases Carpio, had a business interest, received P319.33 million in inward remittances originating from mainland China and Hong Kong.
Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros subsequently said her investigation indicated that the entities behind the remittances were allegedly Chinese state-owned enterprises, raising questions about the nature and purpose of the transactions.
The reported financial transfers have since drawn scrutiny over their possible national security implications, although the existence of commercial remittances alone does not establish wrongdoing or an unlawful transaction.
Duterte-Carpio, however, rejected attempts to portray business relationships with Chinese entities as inherently suspicious, emphasizing that China remains a major trading partner of Philippine businesses.
“Napakarami nun na mga negosyo na ang export nila or import nila ay galing China,” she said.
She also challenged the credibility of the impeachment proceedings, claiming that the original complaint lacked supporting documents and that additional allegations were being introduced as the case progressed.
“Sa simula pa lang yung impeachment complaint mo walang annexes, walang attached pieces of evidence tapos gumawa ka, nag-imbento ka ng ebidensya. Nagsisinungaling, nag-iimbento kaya bumabagsak ‘yung kaso kaya nag-shift na ‘yung narrative sa China-China ngayon,” she added.
Her accusations of fabricated evidence remain unsubstantiated in the information presented, while the reported remittances and their possible security implications remain subject to scrutiny.
Duterte-Carpio further questioned whether the government’s position effectively meant that Filipino companies conducting legitimate business with China could be considered national security risks.
“So ano ba talaga? Bawal ba talaga magnegosyo with China kasi it’s a national security risk?” she said.
The controversy adds another dimension to the Vice President’s impeachment proceedings, placing the financial activities of a company linked to her husband under scrutiny while deepening the political tensions surrounding her and the Marcos administration ahead of the 2028 elections./PN
