Bank witness says firm tied to Sara Duterte's husband closed both accounts in July; NSC studies China-linked remittances
On Day 35 (October 7), Security Bank's Leslie Cham testified that Cale88 Foods Corp. closed its two checking accounts in July 2026 (GMA News, Daily Tribune). AMLC records show ₱319,326,770.41 in remittances to the firm, ₱315.94 million from China and ₱3.39 million from Hong Kong, from four Chinese companies (Tribune, Context.ph). Hontiveros said some have state or party ties; the defense disputes this. The AMLC director said he did not testify that the Chinese government sent the money and that no evidence showed Duterte or Carpio personally benefited. The NSC said it would look into the flows (Tribune, Newswav). A BPI official testified a joint account's documents lacked Sara Duterte's signature.
The vice president's unexplained wealth is the core of the case. Foreign money tied to a family firm raises both a legal question and a national security question, but neither has been decided.
The trial shapes the 2028 election field. Treat testimony as claims being tested, not verdicts.
Closed accounts and foreign remittances raise questions that deserve answers under oath.
Reported transactions are not proof of crime, no direct benefit has been shown, and the defense calls the case political.
Three things remain unproven: who the real senders were, what the money was for, and whether any of it reached the Dutertes. Watch the defense's own witnesses and any NSC findings.
DailyDrop Philippines edition No. 4 · Morning · THU., OCT. 8, 2026