By Erika Mae P. Sinaking, Reporter
ALLEGATIONS that China-linked funds flowed to entities associated with Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio and her husband could raise national security concerns if evidence establishes that the money was intended to influence Philippine policy, analysts said.
“Philippine officials must serve Philippine interests,” Gary G. Ador Dionisio, dean of the School of Diplomacy and Governance at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, told BusinessWorld in a Facebook Messenger chat.
“Foreign influence does not always arrive through warships. Sometimes it comes through money, political networks, economic relationships, disinformation and elite capture,” he added.
Former Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV has alleged that more than P469 million in China-linked funds went to entities associated with Ms. Duterte and her husband, Manases R. Carpio. Her camp has rejected the allegations as malicious propaganda.
Documents presented by Mr. Trillanes at a news conference last week purportedly showed that the Chinese Embassy donated P150 million in 2019 to Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines, Inc., a foundation where Ms. Duterte is an incorporator and trustee.
He also alleged that P319 million from the Chinese government and China-based corporations flowed into Cale88 Foods Corp., in which Mr. Carpio held a stake between 2021 and 2024.
Mr. Trillanes said the transactions warranted scrutiny because of their potential implications for national security and foreign policy. The allegations have not been independently established.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has called for continuity in Philippine policy toward the West Philippine Sea, expressing concern that a future administration could weaken gains made following the 2016 arbitral ruling.
Mr. Dionisio said credible evidence of foreign funding intended to influence government decisions should be investigated regardless of the political affiliation of those involved.
“If credible evidence proves that foreign money was given to the Duterte family or people closely associated with them with the intention of influencing government policy, then this is no longer simply a political controversy,” he said. “It becomes a national security issue.”
Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. likewise warned of serious national security implications if the allegations were substantiated.
“He should submit the evidence in his possession, if any, to our law enforcement authorities so the matter can be thoroughly investigated,” he said in a statement released through Malacañang over the weekend, referring to Mr. Trillanes.
Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said public officials could face serious legal consequences if financial inducements were found to have influenced their position on Philippine territorial and maritime rights.
She said such conduct could potentially constitute treason, while stressing that the administration was not passing judgment on the allegations.
Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University, said debates over whether Philippine officials should maintain close ties with particular foreign powers have long shaped the country’s politics.
He noted that the Philippines had sought relationships not only with the US and China but also with Japan, Europe and Australia.
“The difference is that due to superpower status and the sheer strategic position we have, a government being too identified with US agendas or essentially surrendering to Chinese sovereignty claims is a polarizing position to be in,” he told BusinessWorld in a Messenger chat.
“Anyone responsible for seriously violating our sovereign interests should be held liable, regardless of the foreign country involved,” he said. However, the threat posed by China warrants greater priority, he added.
Mr. Juliano said multilateral partnerships were becoming increasingly important but could remain fragile unless foreign policy became a broader national priority rather than merely an agenda pursued by government institutions.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.
Salvador Paolo A. Panelo, Jr., spokesman for Ms. Duterte, dismissed Mr. Trillanes’ allegations as another attempt to discredit the Vice-President and her family.
Ms. Duterte’s camp maintained that the accusations were politically motivated and said her defense team was prepared to challenge claims presented before the Senate impeachment court.
Mr. Trillanes has stood by his allegations, saying they were based on financial records.
The dispute comes amid continuing tensions between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, including confrontations involving Philippine and Chinese vessels near disputed areas.
Mr. Juliano said making foreign policy a central issue in the 2028 elections could help establish a more durable national position on the West Philippine Sea — areas of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Mr. Dionisio likewise warned against allowing Philippine maritime policy to change substantially with each administration.
“The 2016 arbitral award, UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the protection of our sovereign rights should transcend administrations because we cannot afford a West Philippine Sea policy that resets every six years,” he said.