Chinese Embassy rejects claims of funding Philippine political faction

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 06, 2026

Photo courtesy: GMA News Live Stream

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese Embassy in Manila has denied allegations that Beijing funneled money to a political faction in the Philippines, calling the claim a fabricated narrative and warning against using China in domestic political disputes.

Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng issued the statement on Oct. 5, days after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged that China-linked funds had flowed to entities associated with Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio. 

Ji did not identify the Philippine politicians or political group referred to in the embassy statement.

He said the embassy had taken note of claims that China had provided money to a local political faction and also objected to the use of the embassy’s website in materials connected to the allegations. He urged Philippine politicians not to drag China-Philippines relations into domestic political disputes. 

The denial followed Trillanes’ Oct. 2 press conference, where he alleged that more than P319 million from China-linked sources entered Cale88 Foods Corp., a company previously associated with Carpio. Trillanes also cited a P150-million donation from the Chinese Embassy to the Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines, an organization linked to Duterte. 

The P150-million transaction was tied to the construction of 13 classroom buildings in Davao City and had been publicly reported when the project was undertaken. Its existence alone does not establish that the money was intended as political financing. 

A separate development in the impeachment trial on Oct. 5 added another layer to the controversy.

Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura testified that AMLC records showed Cale88 received an aggregate P319.326 million in remittances from mainland China and Hong Kong. The testimony confirmed the amount and origin of the remittances recorded by AMLC, but did not establish that the Chinese government itself funded a Philippine political faction. 

Buenaventura also declined to conclude during questioning that the transactions amounted to money laundering. 

Duterte’s camp has rejected Trillanes’ accusations. Her spokesperson, Paolo Panelo, described the claims as fabricated and said the Vice President was prepared to face any investigation or case arising from the allegations.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has urged Trillanes to submit his evidence to law enforcement authorities, saying the allegations could have serious national security implications if substantiated. 

Malacañang has likewise said the allegations should be examined if backed by sufficient evidence, while stopping short of reaching a conclusion on their veracity.